Terrance Hobbs is the lead guitarist in the New York Death Metal band Suffocation

Suffocation (band)

Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...

. Hobbs has been a constant member in the band since their first released title Reincremated along with band mates Frank Mullen

Frank Mullen

Frank Mullen, is the vocalist of New York death metal band Suffocation, and met fellow band mates Mike Smith and Terrance Hobbs in high school. He is recognized to be among the first to bring low-pitched vocals in death metal...

 and Mike Smith, who all met in high school. Hobbs also played in the death metal

Death metal

Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....

 project, Criminal Element, which featured fellow bassist Derek Boyer.

Techniques

Terrance is renowned in the death metal scene for having combined fast and repetitive barred riffing closely accompanied by other swept and often technical unexpected patterns: laying down the basics of Technical/Brutal death metal of today. He is also well known for his bizarre sounding, swept mocking solos famously accompanied with his signature tremolo utilisation, usually in the form of divebombs and trills along with finger tapping. Pierced from Within

Pierced from Within

Pierced from Within is an album released in 1995 by the technical death metal band Suffocation. "Synthetically Revived" is a re-recording of the song of the same name from the Human Waste EP and "Breeding the Spawn" is a re-recording of the title track from the band's previous album.Both this album...

is a classic example, containing an array of complex breakdowns and atmospheric solos, along with Effigy of the Forgotten

Effigy of the Forgotten

-Personnel:Suffocation*Frank Mullen: All Vocals*Doug Cerrito: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Terrance Hobbs: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Josh Barohn: Bass*Mike Smith: DrumsProduction*Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Scott Burns*Mastered By Eddy SchreyerGuest Musicians...

and Souls to Deny

Souls to Deny

Souls to Deny is a fourth album by the death metal band Suffocation marking the end of a six year hiatus. This is the first album featuring former guitarist Guy Marchais and marks the return of original drummer, Mike Smith...

, which features a great deal of layered riffing and unusual melodies.

Equipment

Terrance uses a B.C.Rich warlock custom NJ with a notable reverse pointed headstock and occasionally a B.C.Rich Zombie. He is also endorsed by Engl

Engl

ENGL is a German company that makes high-end tube amplifiers for electric guitars. Over the years ENGL has succeeded in becoming a global player in this market...

 amplification and Vader cabinets and uses Ernie ball

Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that...

 strings and Di Marzio(which?) pickups.

Other Notes

Hobbs is well known for his large 70's style glasses, which his friends used to always find a way to break.

His Custom B.C.Rich Warlock's reverse headstock is pointed left, unlike the majority of other B.c rich headstock's that are normally pointed right. He is also endorsed by B.C. Rich and receives occasional warlocks from them. He has been known to use guitars such as the "Calibre" Warlock.

External links