Artist: Skeletonwitch
Album: Breathing the Fire
Label: Prosthetic Records
Websites: www.myspace.com/skeletonwitch
www.prostheticrecords.com
The liner notes to their 2nd Prosthetic Records album quotes the band’s credo and perfectly sumsup what they’re all about: “We’re Skeletonwitch from Athens, Ohio! Drink beer, smoke weed, and eat some fucking pussy!” I couldn’t have said it any better myself. I really thought I was at a Pantera show when I read that. For a band that has the talent and knack to combine thrash, death metal and black metal seemlessly into their own cauldron of doom & gloom, I’d say they’ve done pretty well for themselves 2 albums into their career.
“Submit to the Suffering” kicks everything off with its’ fast-paced, blistering thrash that’s reminiscent of a runaway train that’s headed
straight in your direction. “Longing for Domination” chugs along for a bit to begin, then they decide to get serious and proceed to reach through your speakers and kick your ass. The blistering dual guitar attack and throat-scorching vocals are surprisingly matched in intensity by the pummeling assault that the rhythm section has decided to lay upon you.
“Released From the Catacombs” quickly begins as they chug along for a bit, pummeling you with mechanical precision. They eventually speed into full on thrash about a minute in and go absolutely nuts. Instead of being content with just going off for the rest of the song, they slow things down and chug along for a bit and jam out, letting the music breathe a little. “Stand Fight and Die” begins furiously with odd harmonics, then goes right into full on thrash with angry, raspy vocals. They slow it down for a bit and mix in guttural vocals before the anthemic chorus hits you and shows off some of the band’s newfound musical growth. The lyrics are classic as usual as well: “When weapons raise and the blood starts to flow/You stand, you fight, you die.” “Crushed Beyond Dust” quickly begins with the fury of a bull that’s about to charge. They go apeshit about 45 seconds in, pummeling your ears with searing riffs, throaty vocals that drip with pure emotion and the machine-like thunder of the rhythm section. This is the band at their finest, most brutal.
“Gorge Upon My Soul” begins quickly but isn’t nearly as heavy sounding as most of the rest of this record. They eventually make up for that as they make things downright brutal during the second half of the song, putting their trademark speed and fury into a pot and letting it all boil over. “Repulsive Salvation” begins quickly with the thundering rhythm section and throbbing riffs. The throaty, guttural vocals are heavy as hell and they deliver some of the best lines of the band’s existence: “Infested you cry out in ecstasy/Rats and maggots cleanse your flesh.” Sweet! This is just nasty, downright brutal metal.
All things considered, this is a serious album of the year candidate in my book. While I would’ve been perfectly content with a repeat of “Beyond the Permafrost”, I’m thrilled with the growth they’ve shown on this album. Hopefully they’ll continue to push the envelope with every release. Is it safe to say that they’re the heirs to Slayer’s throne? Maybe they’re not there quite yet but I think they’re a good bet to be there someday.
Rating: 8 out of 10.
Recommended tracks: Crushed Beyond Dust, Stand Fight and Die, …And Into the Flame
Track listing:
1. Submit to the Suffering
2. Longing for Domination
3. Where the Light Has Failed
4. Released From the Catacombs
5. Stand Fight and Die
6. The Despoiler of Human Life
7. Crushed Beyond Dust
8. Blinding Black Rage
9. Gorge Upon My Soul
10. Repulsive Salvation
11. Strangled by Unseen Hands
12. …And Into the Flame
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