SKULGRINDER
~ Island Of Lost Souls~
THE ARTIST & THE DISC
~
Island Of Lost Souls is Heavy Metal Theatre for the mind. A
creative and musically visual concept CD about a fictional city called "The
Island Of Lost Souls". It's a decadent not-so futuristic place filled with
deadly chaos and violent, frightening characters. A CD so right on that I
had to keep looking out the window to make sure it hadn't indeed become a
reality! Lyrically and musically the CD reads (or listens) like a movie,
each song a different scene with a whole different atmosphere. Guitarist
Michael Knight is a writer of horror stories so you know he already has a
very keen sense of what's frightening and how to create it. Michael's ability
to carry over to his music all the nuances of the horror genre,
anger/fear/desperation/confusion/etc. so vividly is what puts this
guitarists way above the rest. The music isn't doom, although the inhabitants
of the island are surely doomed. In Michael's own words "This CD is not a
celebration of death but rather, a commentary on the bizarre behavior that
can afflict the human psyche and thought process of individuals gone askew".
And believe me that's putting it mildly.
If you're already familiar with New York's own Prince Of Darkness
guitarist Michael Knight, then you'll notice the parallel between his solo
works and Skulgrinder's "Island Of Lost Souls". Both are based in horror
and the dead. Both contain dark deeply twisted themes and shred attacks that
cross the line between brutal and lethal. And being a collector of
human skulls the dead is something this guitarist knows about. If you're
not familiar with Michael Knight check out The Guitarist's
Featured Artist Column on the main page. For
a much closer look at the man behind the madness check out
Michael's
Official Site.
Skulgrinder is an yet another extension of this skilled players
creativity. Skulgrinder enables Michael to add another dimension to his music
with vocals. Adding Brian Andersen (vocals) to the mix helps bring the evil
to an almost volatile state. Sounding like a cross between Rob Halford and
one of my favorite metal singers Eric A.K. from Flotsam and Jetsam this guy
must get his power from the forces of hell. But a deep rooted melody makes
sure that power is never overbearing. A singer, a shouter, a screamer, this
guy has it all. And he knows exactly when to use each style to best create
the vision. Brian's voice and is a big part of the radio friendly feel
on this demonically demented metal CD.
The other part is Michael Knight, guitarist and musical medium
to the dead. Knowing Michael Knight was the guitarist for Skulgrinder made
me both nervous and pleased. I was pleased because I knew I would hear this
dynamic player/composer in a whole new format. But I was nervous because
very few of my instrumental guitar heros actually make the shift gracefully,
if not crashed all together.
Not the case here however....."Island Of Lost Souls" is a certified
Metal Masterpiece! Drawing from the graves of lost metal bands and picking
the bones of the current metal bands, Skulgrinder conjures up a sound and
style that will appeal to both the classic and current metal fan. Like any
great commercially successful metal band there is a real rock influence here
that is so strong many of these songs would easily fit in a radio format.
(Note* this is not a commercial CD...but it's commercially accessible) There
are no pretty moments to be found, unless you count the dark spiritually
moving "Forgotten Prisoner". Which in all honesty really is a beautiful
tune....and just as I hoped, it turns and bites, turning angry and desperate.
I love the mood swings....
While Brian and Michael are in your face creating the fear,
lest we forget the guys in charge of the muscle, the ones who actually do
the asskicking. Curt Robinson (bass) and Kato Peragine (drums) take their
mission seriously and turn punisher for the forces that be. When you have
this CD cranked up, it's Curt and Kato you have to thank for the bruises.
With more understanding of bass than drums I can tell you...Damn! Curt is
a dynamic force by himself, funky and demonic. It's kind of like, Satan sending
one of his henchman to get you and it turns out to be Bootsy Collins.
the last word:
This CD Will Leave You Half Past Dead......And Dying To Hear More!
Real F*cking Metal Without All The Pretentious Bullshit Found In Today's
Metal. This Is THE FUTURE OF REAL HEAVY METAL!!
THE TRACKS
if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about
(and who does?)....check out the samples below.
And read my comments while listening to a streaming sample of all songs.
flash
required
Click
Here To Sample the CD
---
~ |
TRACK
#1 "EGO CRITICAL" - A fat chunky Priest like slow thrash groove drives
the nasty piece of classic metal. You are immediately sucked into the dark
world of "The Island Of Lost Souls", but this is only the beginning of the
journey. I love the spacious dissident almost disconnected feel of the main
solo, creating an uneasy fearful tension........
TRACK #2 "FEAR" - Ohhhh! Yeeeaaaaa! Mutha F'er!! On the first track
"Ego Critical" you could sense the evil coming, where on this track,
the evil has arrived. You can sense it, it's behind you, in front of you,
you feel it entering your body with every breath. This is a no-holds barred
high tension attack named perfectly. If Brian was in my face screaming like
this "Fear" is exactly what I'd be feeling. The scary part is I've actually
felt this these things.
TRACK #3 "TATTOOED CITY" - An epic metal track with an unusually pleasant
balladesque chorus that must be a great audience participation song live.
I find myself singing along with the chorus by myself all the time. Although
I only held up my lighter once (nearly caught my office on fire). This track
features some absolutely wicked Michael Knight guitar too (that's always
a good thing).
TRACK #4 "ISLAND OF LOST
SOULS" - The title track, and where the Island Of Lost Souls"
CD starts to really become a vision. Starting to really hear and see the
apocalyptic, poisonous world that man has brought upon himself. The many
changes in texture and mood make this epic track much more than simply a
great metal tune. It's progressive without being artsy!
TRACK #5 "JACK CITY JESUS" - A radio friendly song (as is most of
the CD really). Another song you can't help singing along with. Although
there is one killer scream where I almost pop a nut just faking it. This
song has a lighter feel than the rest of the CD, bringing the feel of a salvation
of sorts but within a dark atmosphere.
TRACK #6 "HAIL STORM" - A song that is 100% unashamed evil. With a
chorus of "Die.......World Die!" you know The Time Has Come To Pay For Your
Ways! And pay you will!! I love this song.
TRACK #7 "FORGOTTEN PRISONER" - A song that shifts the mood to a forsaken
sadness and the anger that accompanies it. A monstrous tune with a deep
underlying beauty that turns desperately to anger. Beautiful and angry, man
I love this stuff.
TRACK #8 "VIRTUAL INSANITY" - Crank up the volume on this track and
you'll get a virtual ass kicking from punishing rhythm section. Michael (guitar),
Curt (bass) and Kato (drums) create an unstoppable force that just pummels
you non-stop.
TRACK #9 "BETWEEN THE LIES" - This song though still in the metal
vein, has more of a heavy rock feel at times giving it a radio friendly metal
sound (ala priest, maiden).
TRACK #10 "CATHEDRAL IN
FLAMES" - Oh Yeea!! I knew Michael wouldn't let me down. This
guy is an incredible solo (instrumental) guitarist, so I was hoping there
would be an instrumental piece. This is it, a piece with a classical influence
and a sort of urgent feel to it. Beautifully forceful!
TRACK #11 "NEVERMORE" - The most radio oriented song on the CD, while
still remaining true to the theme of the CD. This is yet another of the many
songs that should and probably will be gracing the airwaves in the near future.
In your face Heavy Metal was never so palatable to the masses. This
track would fit perfectly within todays rock format!
TRACK #12 "IN GOD WE TRUST" - A fitting and downright demonic end
to a visit to "The Island Of Lost Souls". A classic metal song with "in god
we trust" sung in a death metal style to leave an impression you won't soon
forget after leaving the Island........
TRACK #12 "SKULGRINDER AUDIO ICON" -
"SKULGRINDER"
CLICK THE BANNER
TO VISIT THIS INCREDIBLE BAND'S WEBSITE
and buy the ISLAND OF LOST SOULS CD.
|
