Forgotten Gems: Skelator-Death To All Nations

Metal on Metal Records
2010


Again we find ourselves with not so much a "Forgotten Gem" per say but rather a release that slipped by the metal community without a proper response. In a world in which we find our lives sonically assaulted by horrible modern metal and thousands of black metal acts that all sound alike I would argue the need for more traditionally minded bands like Skelator. Before you ever take this release for a spin you just know from their name and album art that this one is going to be retro. Maybe not retro in the same way as acts like Enforcer, Cauldron, Skull Fist and White Wizzard. No, what we have here is retro loving power metal that is modern enough without being the lame duck that is modern metal. Let me explain more. Formed in San Diego (currently they are in Seattle, Washington where I just happened to be this past month) in 1998 this five piece band went the usual route of demos, EP, a split and compilation appearance before hitting the world with their self-released/independent debut "Give Me Metal or Give Me Death" in 2008. Two years later we have the aptly titled "Death To All Nations". While retro in nature (influenced no doubt as much by classic bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Blitzkrieg, Angel Witch, Dio and Judas Priest as they were by Fates Warning, Helloween, Metallica, Crimson Glory, Running Wild, Grave and Helstar) there is more than enough modern flair for today's discriminating listener. For one thing the production is crisp and clear allowing songs like "The Truth" and "Circle of Bloodshed" to explode out of your speakers! While in general the group falls into an almost European epic heavy/speed metal category (without the cheesy keyboards and with more thrash metal riffs) tunes like"Stand Up (For Rock and Roll)" come off as more of a homage to early eighties acts like Ozzy, Dio and Judas Priest. It does seem out of place on an album filled with serious heavy tracks and yet it has an earnest feel to it that makes you long for the days when true metal LPs lined the shelves of record stores. No doubt this was a release that just got lost among the mess of heavy metal releases in 2010 and some may view their take on the genre as being to old fashioned and hooky. The thing is though with the revivalism movement in full swing these days a band like Skelator should be standing out in front with their top notch musical skills and ability to write hook-filled heavy metal numbers. Hopefully this post will help lead others to Skelator's brand of retro metal.

Retro/old-school/throwback metal-views and opinions

Every musical style seems to come back in fashion at some point and in various forms. It seems to has happened a great in hard rock and metal over the last decade. Whether it's thrash, glam, death or classic metal there seem to be plenty of bands that have popped that play these styles similar to the way they were played back in the 1980's to early 90's. Certainly there are bands who build on that sound, brought some ideas of their own and maybe added some more modern ideas. There are other bands whose mission seems to be to relive the look and sound of bands from two plus decades again. I loved metal back then and still do, but it's hard to take younger bands whose total goal seems to be to sound just like it was 1985. If it's done right and it's a debut then I might be able to take it. However I always have the hope that this is a starting point and that the band will work to bring in their own ideas the next time around. If they come back sounding like it 1986 on album #2 then I tend to be less optimistic that they do anything other than live in the past. Now that may sound hypocritical for me to given the name of my blog. Still I stand by that view. Now I do think a high energy level can help a band's approach even if the music is all too familiar as is the case with Enforcer's latest effort "Diamonds". I normally judge these bands like all others in a case by case basis. However I have read reviews from both sides. Some reviewers hear these bands and embrace them because it's the style they love while others roll their eyes when they hear bands who stick to this style. While I often claim these bands lack originality I have been told by defenders of these bands that being good means more than being original. I think lacking in ideas can count against a band. While I liked how Motley Crue sounded in 1983 or how Slayer sounded in 1986 that doesn't mean I want to hear a band popping now sound just like them. Then again that may just be me. Feel free to chime in, add on or tell me off.