Suffocate City

"Suffocate City"
Single by The Funeral Portrait featuring Spencer Charnas
from the album Greetings from Suffocate City
Released21 June 2024
Length3:33
LabelBetter Noise
Composers
  • Lee Jennings
  • Robert Weston
  • Brandon Umbanhowar
  • Cody Weissinger
  • Josh Landry
  • Johnny Andrews
Producers
  • Landry
  • Andrews
The Funeral Portrait singles chronology
"Dark Thoughts"
(2023) 		"Suffocate City"
(2024) 		"Holy Water"
(2025)
Music video
"Suffocate City" on YouTube

"Suffocate City" is a song by American rock band The Funeral Portrait. It is the lead single from their second album Greetings from Suffocate City and features guest vocals from Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas. It also reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in November 2024.

Background and recording

The collaboration with Charnas began after The Funeral Portrait opened for Ice Nine Kills at Silver Scream Con. Lee Jennings said that following a strong fan response at the convention, Charnas expressed interest in working with the band. "Suffocate City" was chosen by Charnas as the track for collaboration following approximately six months of discussion.[1]

The song was recorded remotely over Zoom during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with each band member recording their parts separately and sending the files back and forth. Their original studio session was canceled due to the pandemic, so they improvised to complete the song using online collaboration.[2]

Jennings said that "Suffocate City" was always intended to be a lead track for the album, with the band developing conceptual ideas for the song and its video from the start. Collaborations with guest artists, including Charnas, were described as seamless, with Jennings stating the process allowed the band to explore new sounds. Jennings described Charnas as supportive, characterizing the collaboration as "almost like a torch passing".[3]

Charnas said he was "thrilled" to collaborate with the band on the song and confirmed that he took part in both the recording and the accompanying music video.[4] His vocals, described as fitting seamlessly with Jennings,[5] appear around one minute and thirty seconds into the track.[6]

Release

The track had been under development for four years[6] and was released digitally on June 21, 2024. It was the second preview from the band's forthcoming album at the time, following the track "You're So Ugly When You Cry".[7] The music video was released concurrently with the single[4] and was described as prom-themed by Rock Sound.[8]

Composition and themes

Jennings described "Suffocate City" as a mythical or "magical non-real place" where listeners can feel included or find a sense of refuge.[2] Jennings said the song deals with themes of fear and stagnation, particularly the feeling of being stuck in a dead-end job, relationship, or financial situation,[4] and the anxiety of never being able to get out.[9]

Blabbermouth wrote that the song features heavy riffs and a driving chorus, evoking a sense of fear,[7] while Rock Sound described it as "pummelling" and "explosive".[8] New Noise Magazine described the track, noted as a fan favorite on the album, as catchy and "wonderful". It opens with a mix of electric guitars and drums, with vocals beginning around fifteen seconds in. The chorus is said to capture the essence of the band, and the vocals of Jennings and Charnas are noted for blending their styles.[6] The track opens the album and begins with an industrial style, which feels nostalgic of the 2000s while also sounding modern. The instrumentals are described as reminiscent of My Chemical Romance, with the review stating that this combination quickly draws the listener into the narrative.[5]

Music video

The music video shows the band performing at a school formal (prom) attended by a crowd of misfits and underwhelmed teens. Jennings said the choreography was planned within budget constraints, with friends and peers volunteering their time to help execute the video.[3]

Track listing

"Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas)" – by The Funeral Portrait single[10][11]
No.TitleLength
1."Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills)"3:33

Commercial performance

"Suffocate City" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on November 16, 2024, their first song to do so. It is their first entry on any Billboard chart and their first No. 1 overall. The band is the third act in 2024 to achieve a first No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart as a lead act, and the first act to lead with a first charted track on any ranking since January 2022. Charnas also earns his first chart leader on a Billboard ranking with this song.[12]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[13]

The Funeral Portrait

  • Lee Jennings - lead vocals, composer
  • Robert Weston - bass, composer
  • Brandon Umbanhowar - drums, composer
  • Cody Weissinger - guitar, composer
  • Caleb Freihaut - guitar, keyboards

Additional musician

Additional credits

Charts

References

  1. ^ Bambino, Samantha (11 July 2025). "Step Into Suffocate City: The Funeral Portrait's Lee Jennings On Lore, INK, and Building A Spooky Empire". PopHorror. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Caine, Zee (30 August 2024). "Interview: Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait Sends Greetings from Suffocate City". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b Dunton, Claire (13 September 2024). "The Funeral Portrait: 'We Knew That Budgets Were Crazy But Thought, Let's Do It To Our Fullest Extent'". The Music. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c wookubus (20 June 2024). "Ice Nine Kills' Spencer Charnas Guests On New The Funeral Portrait Track "Suffocate City"". ThePRP. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Griffiths, Charlotte (13 September 2024). "Album Review: Greetings From Suffocate City – The Funeral Portrait". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b c Caine, Zee (13 September 2024). "Album Review: The Funeral Portrait – Greetings from Suffocate City". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b "The Funeral Portrait Drops New Track 'Suffocate City' Feat. Spencer Charnas Of Ice Nine Kills". Blabbermouth. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Howell, Maddy (21 June 2024). "The Funeral Portrait Team Up With Spencer Charnas For Pummelling New Single 'Suffocate City'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  9. ^ #Flashartmark (21 June 2024). "The Funeral Portrait release "Suffocate City" feat. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills". RockNLoadMag. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills) - Single by The Funeral Portrait, Ice Nine Kills, Spencer Charnas - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas) - Single - Album by The Funeral Portrait - Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  12. ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin (8 November 2024). "The Funeral Portrait Earns First No. 1 With 'Suffocate City'". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas) - Song by The Funeral Portrait". Apple Music.
  14. ^ "Canada Mainstream Rock Chart — 2025-01-25". Billboard Canada. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Year End Charts 2025: Canada Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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