It’s a somber truth that recent years have seen the passing of some unquestionably iconic figures of our world, whether contemporary future legends or seasoned veterans. Although all as emotionally impactful as the last, the untimely demise of Suicide Silence vocalist extraodinaire Mitch Lucker in late 2012 was met with a particularly anguished outcry, as it not only halted the growing legacy of perhaps one of metal’s most celebrated, and indeed influential frontmen, but saw him survived by his young family, daughter Kenadee aged 4, and wife Jolie Carmadella.

Forming Suicide Silence back in 2002, Mitch Lucker established himself early on as perhaps the most blood thirsty vocalist in the burgeoning US extreme metal scene. His maniacal performance on debut full-length and deathcore game changer ‘The Cleansing’, all thunderous lows and piercing shrieks, is on occasion legitimately terrifying, a wide-eyed intensity setting him apart from many on his growing list of peers, which is perhaps why bands such as The Acacia Strain (‘Predators’, ‘Never Prey’), Winds Of Plague (‘Classic Struggle’), and Caliban (‘We Are The Many’) made use of the singer’s fearsome pipes.

Follow-ups ‘No Time To Bleed’ and ‘The Black Crown’ may have taken vast songwriting leaps (the insta-classic anthemia of ‘You Only Live Once’ and ‘Wake Up’‘s call to arms venom spring quickly to mind), yet it would be difficult to argue that Mitch‘s true vocation was not anywhere but on stage. The universally acclaimed Suicide Silence live show revolved around a frontman as unique as he was imposing; part drill sergeant, part predatory brute, Mitch stamped his ground (quite literally with his trademark foot stomp seemingly jarring foundations with every breakdown) on the boards whilst holding the audience in the palm of his hand.

Passing away from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident on November 1st 2012, a tidal wave of mourning quickly followed in the shape of a candle lit vigil that very same night, in which four hundred fans and family members attended to celebrate Mitch‘s memory. December 21st also saw his four band mates perform a memorial show entitled ‘Ending Is The Beginning’, featuring the likes of Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria), Jonny Davy (Job For A Cowboy), Tim Lambessis (As I Lay Dying), Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God) and Robb Flynn (Machine Head) taking the mic for a set of classic Suicide Silence material, with all proceeds raised going to The Kenadee Lucker Further Education Fund, set up to aid the future schooling of Mitch‘s daughter.

As the Californian quintet begin to reclaim their stranglehold on metal’s current scene, having recruited All Shall Perish‘s own Eddie Hermida to join the fold full-time in 2013, we can be sure that, through the timeless songs he left behind, from the legion of fans he heartened and inspired, and his continuing significance we will see as new bands come and go, Suicide Silence will always be a shrine to the memory of Mitch Lucker.

KEY TRACKS:

We’ve compiled a playlist of Mitch‘s best moments in Suicide Silence. You can listen to it below:



Want to subscribe to this playlist? Click here and then click subscribe.

Written by Tony Bliss (@TBliss88)