Search - Skeletonwitch :: Beyond the Permafrost

One of the best pure metal releases this year

Bill Allison | Southwest Missouri, United States | 10/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing a little tired of the same ol' same ol'? Are you one of those who wonders why they just don't make metal like they used too? Well, they do. Turns out that with "Beyond the Permafrost", Skeletonwitch have given us one of the best thrash metal albums since Slayer gave us "Reign in Blood". "Metalcore" this aint. This is straight up old-school thrash that would make Cliff Burton proud. First off, look at the artwork. Read the song titles. Listen to the f***ing samples! This is classic metal, the way it was meant to be played. The songs clock in mostly around the three-minute mark, with neck-snapping riffs, pummeling double-bass, and vocals that veer more into black metal territory than the death grunt. From the opening drum roll of "Upon Black Wings" you will be instantly hooked and the intensity never lets up through the remaining eleven tracks.



I've been listening steadily for the last couple of weeks and I can tell that this one will definitely make my year-end list. I'm expecting big things from this band. Pick up "Beyond the Permafrost" and dig out that old denim jacket (or vest) because you'll be adding another patch before too long."

Black thresh from the abyss

the saucy thrasher | Athens, OH USA | 10/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The mighty Skeletonwitch combines elements of black, death, NWOBHM, melodic, and old school thrash metal, keeping what rules and throwing aside the rest. What's left? Wicked heavy metal that will please fans of any genre. Laid down by riffmaster Nate Garnette, bile-spewer Chance Garnette, supershredder Scotty Hedrick, bassist extroirdinaire Eric Harris and the crushing Derrick Nau on drums, their first full-length album on label Prosthetic Records is the first of hopefully many but shows a maturity and blend of brutality and tasteful skill not often seen in a freshman effort. Catchy but still undeniably true and kult. If you are a fan of metal, and by "metal" you know what I mean, then pick this up."

From the high and mighty snowcapped mountains of...Ohio, act

William Dorfer | 05/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there are some people out there that think metal is dead, just let them give this a spin and let them dispose of their theory. The Ohio-based blackened epic-thrash band Skeletonwitch is definitely an awesome present-day metal band. I say present-day as opposed to contemporary or modern because this band definitely doesn't sound like any of the dime-a-dozen contemporary metalcore bands out there.

No, folks, this is good old-fashioned thrash metal with a mix of black metal, a bit of NWOBHM riffage (New Wave of British Heavy Metal), and epic viking metal. The songs are all relatively short, but they definitely deliver headbanging, guitar-wailing goodness. From the first couple seconds of "Upon Black Wings", I was blown away by these guys.

What's cool about Skeletonwitch is that they have plenty of talent, but they don't take it upon themselves to be too serious. This is some fun metal with the sort of epic, wintery feel of a band like Immortal. If you want a throwback to the classic metal era, or want to listen to a band with lots of talent and cool songs, give this a listen! Thanks for the time, and peace."