Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead

As their previous release, FROM SACRIFICE TO SURVIVAL, was more into Hardcore, so is their new stomping album, TRAMPLE THE WEAK, HURDLE THE DEAD a great, groovey, fast, and pounding Brutal Death Metal piece. After 14 years and 4 Full Lenght releases, Skinless have become a reknown name in the genre of Brutal Death Metal, and they mean business. Being from New York, they just had to have some Hardcore influences in their music, but still they wanted to do something more extreme and bash the fuck outta the music. Their new release is all about destruction, war, misery and death.

Not only the cover, but also the music reminds of a World War II warfare; in the bakcground you hear screams of burnt soldiers, granades tear the limbs and skin of the forsaken, and you wish you were there. In "Deviation Will Not Be Tolerate" you even hear tanks moving, which really makes the whole war ambient perfect. The blast beats sound like machine guns, the guitars like plane roaring, and when the vocals bash your ears and cut them like salami, you will beg for a bullet in the head. The only thing I miss here is some napalm hehe.

This reminds of Vader's ealier releases, as they used to incorporate elements of war scenes into their songs (just watch the "Cold Demons" video - tanks all over the place!). And so does the music of Skinless remind a bit of the old Vader, and the time when Doc used to beat the living crap outta his drums (RIP Doc). With certain new ideas, Skinless came up with a great production, that fits the bands sound perfectly, making the music even more intense and brutal. Some of the chords are very downtuned, and sound very groovey and arse-kicking. FROM SACRIFICE TO SURVIVAL was not one of my fav albums, but the new Skinless is one of my favorite bands, since their music now sounds fresh, and I just have to nod my head, and from time to time headbang a bit. Definitely a great turn of the band, and a promising new epoch.

And for everybody who expects something special - I suggest you take a listen into the last song, "Wicked World", a Black Sabbath cover, that just kicks ass. That one song is worth taking a listening into the new CD.