Skeletonwitch – Breathing the Fire Review
Posted by Enrique on 10.24.2009
Skeletonwitch’s second album for Prosthetic Records straight up rocks. The Ohio-based thrashers deliver a high-quality selection of songs that features a little something for everyone. But you don’t have to take my word for it…
1. Submit to the Suffering (2:16)
2. Longing For Domination (2:45)
3. Where the Light has Failed (2:16)
4. Released from the Catacombs (3:19)
5. Stand Fight and Die (3:30)
6. The Despoiler of Human Life (2:26)
7. Crushed Beyond Dust (2:31)
8. Blinding Black Rage (2:36)
9. Gorge Upon My Soul (3:41)
10. Repulsive Salvation (3:39)
11. Strangled by Unseen Hands (2:54)
12. ...And into the Flame (3:43)
Skeletonwitch is a band that’s been getting favorable buzz in the internet metal world lately, probably because they’ve toured their asses off for years. They’ve played gigs with everyone from Dimmu Borgir and Danzig, to Job for a Cowboy, to Municipal Waste, and are currently on the road with Black Dahlia Murder. They can hang with pretty much any of the hip metal subgenres – black, death, thrash – because their music features a little something for everyone. The Prosthetic Records press kit describes them as a mix of “American thrash, Scandinavian death and black metal and NWOBM,” and I’d be loathe to offer a more accurate assessment. By way of example, here’s their video for “Repulsive Salvation,” a track that’s fairly representative of the whole album:
If you’re a snooty metalhead – and who isn’t now and again – you may find fault with the lack of diversity in Skeletonwitch’s sound. But you’d have to admit the songwriting and musicianship are top notch. Skeletonwitch isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, but they get massive points for terrific execution and sheer headbanging fun. I bet these guys slay live.
As you can surmise from the track times – a majority of the songs on Breathing the Fire clock in under three minutes – Skeletonwitch ain’t messing around. This isn’t some Opeth-level epic metal outfit – they’re just going to kick your ass for a few minutes and put a smile on your face. All the riffs are cool, the tempos change often enough to stay fresh, and no song hangs around long enough to wear out its welcome. The solos are rad, the drums occasionally blast, and the vocals are evil. What more could anyone ask for?
Breathing the Fire was produced by the semi-legendary Jack Endino, who has previously worked with grunge titans Nirvana and Soundgarden. And good for him, because the production on this record really sets it apart from much of the current metal scene. As you may be aware, a lot of metal bands these days use technology to enhance the overall Heavy Factor of their album sound (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Breathing the Fire has a conspicuously more “organic” production than a lot of modern metal albums – for example, the snare drum actually sounds like a snare drum instead of a gunshot, and the bass guitar sounds delightfully massive. I’m as big a fan of triggered drums and over-the-top heaviness as anyone, but Skeletonwitch’s approach has its own merits, and they pull it off nicely.
In the end, what you’ve got is an album with few flaws and a tremendous upside. Hopefully this is only the beginning for Skeletonwitch. When Breathing the Fire debuted last week, it sold nearly 3500 copies and charted at #151. Big ups, they deserve any success that comes their way.
The 411: Breathing the Fire is a great all-purpose record to listen to in your car, when you’re hanging with friends, when you’re working out, etc. Metal fans should certainly give Skeletonwitch a listen – it may not be the best album you’ll buy this year, but it can’t possibly be the worst. An apt one-word review of the album would be “heartwarming.” Skeletonwitch rocks.
