Customer Reviews

Beyond the Permafrost

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Skeletonwitch delivers a disk that sounds familiar while keeping it fresh. This one's been monopolizing my CD player for some time now and the more I play it the more I like it: the riffing reminds me of Defleshed, but smoother; the leads are melodic, the rhythms are chugging and propulsive; and the songs exhibit enough variety to keep things interesting. This is a record for guitar lovers; the cookie monster vocals, while not unpleasant, are wisely keep far back in the mix so you can really focus on the guitar work. One of the best records to come out in the last twelve months.

Sick of metal CORE bands ruining good metal? I am. Skeletonwitch destroys them with it's strong guitars and fast drums, stunning vocals. Not to mention how awesome this band is live. If you like good metal, and not the crap kids today listen to, you should get this.

That's all I can say. I live in Japan and just finally got the album and let me say, it was well worth the wait. Skeletonwitch have redefined a style of music that many of us love yet have stuck to the roots of classic thrash. I highly recommend this album for ANY and ALL fans of either the thrash/metal/deathmetal genre.

This band reminds me of why I got into metal 20+ years ago! Ripping guitars, dual leads, pounding drums, vocals that will peel the paint off you walls and thrashin' like there's no tomorrow!!! Add on top of that the fact that these are some of the nicest dudes you'll ever meet and you have the total package. Support these guys and BUY THIS CD!!!

wow this album blew me away, i baught it the first day it came out in fye and im suprised they had it this band is very underground. this album is basically thrash metal with a bit of old school black metal blended in there very good stuff. definitly for fans of old school thrash and black metal

Great riffs, great songcraft, and a little bit of everything with a strong thrash element. Some riffs are reminiscent of Iron Maiden. I like it a lot.

i saw this band in atlanta on the 13th for the blackest of the black tour, i hadnt really heard them so me and my friends thought that skeletonwitch wasnt going to be that great. They surprised the hell out of us!!!!! they were the opening act and they came in like they were headlining, the description doesnt to this band justice even though it is right about the marshalls and duel flying v's. iall i can say is get this cd and definitily try to get a ticket to the blackest of the black tour every band was amazing and its totally worth the 28 bucks!!!!!!