Whenever fellow metalheads suggest I listen to a new death metal release because they believe it to be, and I quote: “soooooo good”, I immediately hear a click in my brain that signals I’m going into questioning mode. The mere simplicity of the phrase acts like a trigger. I’ve heard it too many times with all too meager results, and I’ve grown weary of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always excited for new releases. But as the years go by, and as I’ve incessantly filtered through the good, the bad, and the mediocre, I’ve learned to take people’s word with a grain of salt. My frustration is naturally open for debate, because people have had the very same reaction, whenever I told them they should listen to an album I personally favored. Still I feel this mindset has given me an edge in reflecting more thoroughly on music.
Especially when talking about a new release from death metal legends Skinless, who have released their second full length album since their reunion in 2013. Since I’m not all that familiar with their work, especially not the earlier albums. I won’t be delving into comparatives. Savagery has been out for some time now – May 11th , to be precise –, and I have gathered expectations were rather high for this one. But boy, do they deliver!
A short but effective sampled intro to the title track Savagery sets a chilling, gritty tone, and is immediately followed by unrelenting ramming, that hints at a 90’s death sound. Both elements are key here, as the album never seems to waver from this positively sinister combo. It’s rather fitting that one of the first lyrics heard should be “the savagery unfolds”.
More than a few tracks don’t shy away from grooviness, which subsequently manages to have them sound more aggressive, as is apparent on Siege Engine. Speed doesn’t really make a difference however, as the same grooviness is found on Medieval, one of the slower tracks in which every beat comes at you like a moker. A very heavy moker, wielded by a very strong arm. Cruel Blade of the Guillotine however starts off with a thrashy riff, but you’re quickly reminded of the genre you’re actually listening to. Especially towards the end of the track when you can’t feel your neck muscles anymore.
Every instrument on this record plays a valuable part. And I mean that in a literal sense. This may speak for itself, but I have listened to records that delivered only through the sum of their parts, rather than appreciating each layer separately. Guitar solos, walky bass riffs, and interchanging drum rhythms contribute just as much to their own game, as they do to the album’s overall sound and cohesion.
Speaking of cohesion , the lyrical themes are in line with the album’s concept as gore and violence alternate and intertwine. Webber‘s slimy gutturals and nasty-sounding screams only benefit the delivery. The parts on which he jumps between both styles are especially outstanding, and offer a welcome variation.
Instrumental tracks like Reversal of Fortune remind me that pacy beats and growls aren’t always required to get a specific message across. The track takes you on a draggy walk through a misty graveyard while a church bell eerily pounds in the distance, purveying a strong sense of dread. One can almost see a startled flock of crows fly off in the distance. So much for a relaxing intermezzo. The final track The Hordes marks the end of this brutal experience and sounds precisely like that: beaten down troops departing from a battleground, or an army of undead on the rise. That’s up to you.
To top it all off Skinless treats us to a cover of Crowbar‘s High Rate Extinction,. For those of you wondering if Crowbar would sound cool as a death metal band: yes. Yes, they would.
Through Savagery, Skinless have released a great record, which any death metal enthusiast should be proud to add to his/her library. From slamming riffs to groovy rhythms, all the way to a well-rounded concept, as much lyrically as atmospherically, my hopes are that Skinless fans saw their expectations met. It has certainly made me want to act more like a savage.
Release date: May 11th, 2018.
Label: Relapse Records
Tracklist:
1. Savagery
2. Siege Engine
3. Skull Session
4. Reversal of Fortune
5. Exacting Revenge
6. Medieval
7. Line of Dissent
8. Cruel Blades of the Guillotine
9. The Hordes
10. High Rate Extinction (Bonus Track)
