Beyond the Permafrost

Skeletonwitch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Prosthetic Records
• ASIN: B000V9B7NE
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,258 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

SKELETONWITCH brings together the old and sacred elements of true heavy metal, melts them down, and forges them into a brand new monolith of riffage. This new beast that has been created, while completely fresh and unique, is still able to give you that 1986 feeling (whether you were already there or are just feeling it for the first time). And THE WITCH's live show is not to be missed - This is a fact known by the countless hessians, thrashers, stoners and punks alike that have bore witness to the vicious spectacle: a whirlwind of nipple-length hair, dual flying Vs, roaring Marshall stacks, and a black master of ceremonies as sick as Satan himself.

Worship the Witch!

Product Description

Formed in Athens, Ohio, SKELETONWICH has been launching metal assaults on an unsuspecting underground since 2003. The members of THE WITCH are bonded by the universal truth, that heavy metal is the law, thereby unleashing the band's brand of ripping, epic thrash. Everything begins with the purity and aggression of the 80's Bay Area thrash scene, but SKELETONWITCH further fuels its evil onslaught with elements of black and Viking metal while proudly waving the NWOBHM flag. Imagine a young Metallica, Megadeath, Slayer and Exodus slamming beers and cranking up immortal records at a ranger in 1985. Just when you think the keg is killed, Judas Priest joins the party with a fresh case of beer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best pure metal releases this year, October 30, 2007

By 

Bill Allison "Bill Allison" (Southwest Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Permafrost (Audio CD)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black thresh from the abyss, October 9, 2007

By 

the saucy thrasher (Athens, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Permafrost (Audio CD)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the high and mighty snowcapped mountains of...Ohio, actually, these guys rock!, May 29, 2008

By 

William Dorfer - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Permafrost (Audio CD)

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.