Skeletonwitch - Beyond The Permafrost

Skeletonwitch is a band that hails from Athens, Ohio. After forming in 2003, they independently released a CD in 2004 and an EP in 2006. They have now signed with Prosthetic Records, and this will be their first exposure to a lot of metal fans.

Beyond The Permafrost is blackened thrash metal with influences of both Bay Area and European thrash along with a little New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. The songs are fast and streamlined with great guitar work from Nate Garnette and Scott Hedrick. They have an excellent groove, and the black metal influence adds a dark and somewhat ominous vibe.

Chance Garnett is Skeletonwitch's vocalist, and he uses both a high pitched evil black metal rasp and a low pitched death metal growl. The songs, although aggressive and extreme, are also very catchy with some memorable melodies. Beyond The Permafrost is an impressive album that should have a wide appeal to old school thrash fans, modern thrash fans, black metal fans, and just metal fans in general.