Metal & Mike: Radiating Thrashing Blackened Inspiration With SKELETONWITCH
It’s remarkable to hear a band develop their material over the years. In the case of Skeletonwitch, each new record continuously shows more improvement in their trademark melodic death/thrash sound. On the band’s sixth studio album, Devouring Radiant Light (Prosthetic, released today), they present a brutally delicious collection of melody, with tinges of black metal influence.
In regard to that influence, guitarist Scott Hedrick shares, “Everything about the record is on purpose. Stylistically speaking, all the elements on ‘Devouring Radiant Light’ have been present to varying degrees in the past. Now they’re just synthesized into a more clearly focused aesthetic, which happens to be hyper-melodic, and somewhat ‘black’ in nature. We’ve always enjoyed listening to black metal. It’s certainly an influence.”
The first three tracks alone off of Devouring Radiant Light roar with guitar riffs exuding bright twangs, wailing alongside clashing drum work. Spicing up their material with more of a blackened tone results in some brilliantly haunting bangers. In regard to black metal bands he enjoys, guitarist Nate Garnette shares, “I have always been into bands like Immortal and Emperor, and have gotten more into Alcest and bands like Sargeist along the way. It’s all about the vibe for me. I don’t care if it’s [a] super slick production or recorded in a trash can. If I can feel it, I love it.”
Furthermore, Garnette sees that while the band’s music has evolved, they’ve also held onto their roots. “I think there is a core sound that started from the beginning. As we grow and change and progress, that original idea still shines through. [Our core sound] wasn’t very contemporary; a song like, ‘Beyond the Permafrost’, doesn’t repeat a riff. That’s a very unique thing; [the song is] very memorable, but not written in pop song fashion.” Overall, Garnette finds their latest record to be a superb addition to the band’s discography. “I think this release is the best representation of what every band member has to offer. It goes deep into everyone’s strong suits. The best collaborative effort to date, for sure.”
This all said, Devouring Radiant Light is much more than just kickass riffs. For vocalist/lyricist Adam Clemans, the record represents a want to inspire. “Hopefully,” Clemans says, “If [listeners] invest themselves into it, they will get inspired to create; that’s the basis of the lyrical theme. […] Storytelling can be very important depending on the record itself. I’ve written straight forward concept pieces before but I don’t believe this record called for that. This record is heavy on the theme of dedication above anything else. My whole goal as a musician has always been to inspire others, the same way that others have inspired me.”
Additionally, Clemans states, “As far as what inspired me, it was as simple as me/the band putting over a decade’s worth of work into our craft and still having the hunger for more.”
For Skeletonwitch, Devouring Radiant Light is an achievement that encompasses all their hard work. They’ve proven themselves to be one of contemporary metal’s biggest acts, continuously delivering melodic-shredding heavy metal. With this record, Skeletonwitch offer fans the gift of inspiration, along with the drive to persevere. In regard as to what he hopes listeners get from the record, Hedrick shares, “It would be nice to think that our music inspires or motivates on some level. Perhaps it helps someone cope with an awful situation, persevere through adversity, or is a catalyst for them to create something novel.”
You can purchase a copy of Devouring Radiant Light via the Prosthetic Records website or Bandcamp. You can listen to their song “Fen of Shadows” below. And if you want to check out previous articles of Metal & Mike, you can find those all here (and you can follow me on Twitter).
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