Skelethal – Of The Depths… (Hells Headbangers Records. 2017).

Skelethal – Of The Depths… (Hells Headbangers Records. 2017).

The fresh-faced thrashing maniacs of Skelethal have finally delivered their full length. After two killer EPs, they have unleashed their debut album upon mankind. For those who haven’t yet heard this band, they are best described as playing ferocious, old-school Death Metal with heavy influences from Entombed, Dismember, and Autopsy. You should expect chainsaw-like HM-2 riffing, and frenetic drumming, caked in a semi-frozen, morbid atmosphere. Things kick off with the brilliant Sons of Zann. An inhuman shrieking sound leads into a killer intro section that builds up the tension before all Hell is unleashed at the two-minute mark and we descend into a world of thrashing riffs and relentless, high-speed drumming. The rest of the album proceeds in a similar whirlwind form, with catchy, macabre riffs driven forward by the mad drumming of Jon Whiplash, intoxicating you and getting the old neck snapping back and forth. There is a masterful use of intros and outros, and songs glide perfectly into each other. The perfect example of this are the final three tracks, starting with Scaly Smelly Flesh, a rabid all-out assault with Lovecraft-inspired lyrics. As soon as it ends, it flows seamlessly into Outer Conviction, where the grotesque rampage rages on before moving into a foetid bit of slower riffing that blends into the tolling of bells that helps to end the one song and open up the a return of the classic Skelethal song Morbid Ovation, originally released on the 2012 Morbid Ovation demo, which officially brings the album to a fitting close. The bonus tracks that feature on the CD version of the album once again openly display the obvious influences for the band, including a killer cover of Dismember Soon to be Dead and a re-recording of Macabre Oblivion. Yes, there are currently many bands playing in the classic Swedish style, and yes, some may end up being relatively boring. However, Skelethal come forth with an earnest passion that enlivens the music and forces you to pay attention. A sincere, impassioned tribute to the old gods, this is a band who are worth paying attention to, as shown by their debut.

7.5/10.