Skeletonwitch are a blackened thrash metal band out of Ohio whose new release on Prosthetic Records is called Beyond the Permafrost, a real throwback to the 80's Bay Area scene mixed with some Norwegian black metal elements for good measure. Front and center is lead growler Chance Garnett, whose leathery, troll-like delivery adds a wild contrast to the precision riffery from guitarists Nate Garnette & Scott Hendrick. The way that Garnett comes at you like a raging black metal banshee or a demonic death metal growler on tracks like "Vengeance Will Be Mine" and "Baptized In Flames" adds a great dimension to these chops heavy thrash pieces, that musically recall vintage Metallica, Exodus, Megadeth, and Testament. In fact, you can almost hear At the Heart of Winter era Immortal mixed with some NWOBHM bombast on songs "Beyond the Permafrost", Limb From Limb","Fire From the Sky", and the crushing "Remains of the Defeated". Riffs bounce off each other, leads are flying all around the mix, rhythms are galloping, and vocals spew plenty of hatred throughout this short but highly enjoyable release, launching Skeletonwitch into the metal spotlight with their brand of acrobatic and brutal thrash that's like a flashback to 1986 with a healthy dose of 1995 sprinkled in as well. Bravo guys- crank up those flying V's, pound them drums, blister that Rickenbacker bass, and terrorize that microphone some more. Skeletonwitch have the goods, so let's see them take the metal world by storm. Recommended.
Track Listing
1. Upon Wings of Black 2:40
2. Beyond the Permafrost 2:29
3. Baptized in Flames 4:05
4. Sacrifice for the Slaughtergod 2:53
5. Vengeance Will be Mine 3:08
6. Limb from Limb 2:16
7. Fast Into the Open Sea 3:16
8. Fire from the Sky 2:33
9. Soul Trashing Black Sorcery 2:34
10. Remains of the Defeated 3:05
11. Feast Upon Flesh 3:09
12. Within My Blood
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