Devouring Radiant Light
Since they hit the scene in 2003, Athens, Ohio\'s Skeletonwitch have always been more than just a thrash band—whether they were snapping necks with their breakout 2007 album, *Beyond the Permafrost*, or branching out on 2013’s melodic *Serpents Unleashed*. Their sixth LP (and first without vocalist Adam Clemans after he joined the band), *Devouring Radiant Light* showcases a seasoned, adventurous version of Skeletonwitch—one that’s more interested in exploring gloomy, dark corners than crushing beer cans and kicking up circle pits. The record still shreds while embracing genre agnosticism: On songs like the magisterial title track or the icy closer, “Sacred Seal,” shards of gothic doom, death metal, and proggy bombast jab at the band\'s more familiar thrash template.
The Ohio party animals scale back the turnt-up thrash of their past in favor of nuanced black metal—without losing their feral edge—on their first full-length with vocalist Adam Clemans.
In this week’s notable new releases: Hive Mind is a step forward for The Internet, while Devouring Radiant Light glimpses a more refined Skeletonwitch, and Ty Segall & White Fence mostly go folk on Joy.
System of a Down’s Daron Malakian releases his long-awaited second solo album, while Jamaican singer Popcaan follows up on his 2014 debut with ‘Forever’
After suddenly parting ways with their founding vocalist Chance Garnette while on tour in 2014, Skeletonwitch found themselves battling year...
A review of Devouring Radiant Light by Skeletonwitch, available July 25th in Japan via Avalon and July 20th worldwide via Prosthetic Records.
Skeletonwitch - Devouring Radiant Light review: Skeletonwitch have crafted one hell of a banger with “Devouring Radiant Light”; a wondrously executed record filled with viciousness and morose joy that sees the Ohio natives operating with an ingenious understanding of modern metal.<script src=