What One Becomes

Pitchfork 7.8/10 Sumac are pushing metal in a direction so uncomfortable it may cease to be metal, into an openness that isn't about saying “FUCK YOU!” the loudest. The result is some of his most exciting work since Isis disbanded.

A.V. Club A It’s hard to imagine a better metal record coming out this year.

The Line of Best Fit 7/10 Sumac are an original voice in metal, and we certainly need more of that. However, as they currently stand, they're merely good. Really, the only thing stopping them from greatness is a lack of self-editing.

All Music 3.5/5 The album is an intense, unpredictable experience, but it seems to progress naturally, and it never feels like they're throwing in esoteric parts just to show off their technical abilities. It's challenging and confrontational, but it's still engaging and relatable.

The Skinny 3/5 There’s real heart buried underneath SUMAC’s furious, deafening bleakness; it can just feel like a serious excavation job to locate it.