ALBUM REVIEW: New Skeletal Faces - Until the Night
Formed in South California in 2017, New Skeletal Faces bring us a second full length album, their debut for the Peaceville label, Until the Night, which brings more Death ‘N’ Roll to our ears, channelling the spirits of old school metal with the gothic aesthetics of Christian Death blended with the black metal of Bathory.
From the opening strains of guitar fade in on Disexist, it is obvious this is going to be an unusual ride. The repetitive riff from guitar/vocal/keyboardist Errol Fritz is slightly discordant, the vocals very different from what I expected. I thought they would be growly, but instead they are more of a high-pitched shout, which often makes them indecipherable. They do work well with the music.
Title track Until the Night is almost musically like a rocked-up Cure at their 80s best. The roll of the death ‘n’ roll moniker is more apparent on Ossuary Lust which has a real groove to it, and the double bass drums of Don Void really come into their own here. The rhythm section, completed by bassist KRO, give a very strong foundation over which Fritz can weave his magic.
Norwegian's Kvelertak come to mind on Zeitgeist Suicide, with the frenetic vocals exploding over the slightly disjointed harmony, with only the drums holding this together. This is however, strangely compelling, with the vocals reminiscent of John Lydon in his P.I.L. heyday. Enchantment Of My Inner Coldness is a personal highpoint, with a very Goth jangle to the guitars, and a whispered refrain behind the chorus, which sent chills up my spine. Following this, a cover of Bathory’s Raise the Dead, which unfortunately doesn’t add much to the original. Much is made of the production of Bill Metoyer (Slayer, Wasp, D.R.I), which is crisp and clean, but doesn’t change the fact that for the most part the vocals present as mere noise. Overall, I enjoyed this album a lot, but one wish – vocals needed to clearer.
Review by Andrew Matthews
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