Skin Infection - Retribution
Skin Infection combine the aggression of Emperor and the harmony of Dimmu Borgir to create their second album, Skin Infection combine the aggression of Emperor and the harmony of Dimmu Borgir to create their second album, Retribution. The band started out in 2004 as a one man project, but eventually climbed to four members. Like their previous album, this one is heavily blasphemous by relying on the cold, burning power of distorted black metal riffs with little bits of harmony dropped in by the guitars. There's keyboard bits too, but those are hidden away for the most part. The drums are a sheer audio assault that are either just beating away constantly or pick up a beat that is just as enjoyable on the guitars, such as on "Inside." As far as the vocals go, they aren't too high pitched and hold a throaty snarl, but they stay almost in monotone the entire time. For some reason, on tracks like "Morbid, they sound flat and tired, like the vocalist is letting the studio production do most of the work rather than the emotions he conveys into the lyrics. Perhaps this is just his style, perhaps not. But, it slightly takes away from the music and listener's intention that he's really getting into the music.
Some tracks are more melodic than others. "Event Horizon" features funeral keyboards to go along with the hypnotic rhythm of the guitars as they crunch along with a few interluding harmonies. It helps to have these harmonies to keep this track from sounding like all the others which are more in the traditional black metal zone of being 'extreme' as possible, along the lines of Emperor's early work. "Invoking The Old One" is a mix between acoustic and heavier passages; there's some spoken word parts that sound like the invoking of a ritual and it really serves as an ice breaker... one that will either provide a interesting tidbit for fans or a completel waste of time. "Pale Darkness" has the keyboards sound much more like piano mixed with the guitars which are set towards a more 'melodic black metal' direction, much like how Old Man's Child performs their music. "Bring Me Your Dead" is an interesting mix of symphonic elements with the seamless fury of black metal. There's a bit of black rock n' roll to this as the guitars thunder with the drums, but the keyboards provide a great backdrop for the rest of the music. The vocals, for once, finally sound passionate as they flex their tone in the dynamics of the song. It's a shame they weren't done like this more often- going between a roar and the usual snarl.
It's a toss up, but this is definitely melodic black metal. The piano sections are definitely a highlight and it is a shame the band didn't use them more often. Fans of artists such as Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child who think that either group has gotten way too 'cheesy' with their symphonic parts, or too melodic, can look right to Skin Infection for its sheer aggression mixed with just the right melody. Although the vocals are a bit of letdown for them being so monotonous, the complexity of each song keeps this album from being too bland to be put down after just one spin.
Some tracks are more melodic than others. "Event Horizon" features funeral keyboards to go along with the hypnotic rhythm of the guitars as they crunch along with a few interluding harmonies. It helps to have these harmonies to keep this track from sounding like all the others which are more in the traditional black metal zone of being 'extreme' as possible, along the lines of Emperor's early work. "Invoking The Old One" is a mix between acoustic and heavier passages; there's some spoken word parts that sound like the invoking of a ritual and it really serves as an ice breaker... one that will either provide a interesting tidbit for fans or a completel waste of time. "Pale Darkness" has the keyboards sound much more like piano mixed with the guitars which are set towards a more 'melodic black metal' direction, much like how Old Man's Child performs their music. "Bring Me Your Dead" is an interesting mix of symphonic elements with the seamless fury of black metal. There's a bit of black rock n' roll to this as the guitars thunder with the drums, but the keyboards provide a great backdrop for the rest of the music. The vocals, for once, finally sound passionate as they flex their tone in the dynamics of the song. It's a shame they weren't done like this more often- going between a roar and the usual snarl.
It's a toss up, but this is definitely melodic black metal. The piano sections are definitely a highlight and it is a shame the band didn't use them more often. Fans of artists such as Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child who think that either group has gotten way too 'cheesy' with their symphonic parts, or too melodic, can look right to Skin Infection for its sheer aggression mixed with just the right melody. Although the vocals are a bit of letdown for them being so monotonous, the complexity of each song keeps this album from being too bland to be put down after just one spin.
- Retribution
- Locust Swarm
- Inside
- Event Horizon
- Invoking The Old One
- Morbid
- Pale Darkness
- New Age Renaissance
- Bring Me Your Dead
Undead Propaganda
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
Sep 20, 2010
Sep 20, 2010
Next review:
Mael Morda - Manannan
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