Strap in your seatbelts and get ready for the most unique
and intense metal album of 2015. Sweden’s Totem
Skin have returned for a ferocious sophomore LP that will take you across
seven tracks of dense soundscapes painted by pure bloodthirsty savagery.
In the early 90’s, Boston legends Converge took the music scene by storm with their unique palette of
hardcore punk borrowing from elements of thrash, sludge, black, and many other
flavors of metal. Converge’s
frontman Jacob Bannon has since formed Deathwish
Inc. recruiting young bands such as Code
Orange or Cult Leader that also
approach writing with a hardcore punk foundation and toy with a vast array of
metallic influences. Totem Skin
would fit comfortably on the Deathwish
roster, taking the likes of hardcore punk, sludge metal, melodic death metal,
and even highlight moments of ambient black metal.
The Swedish quintet’s writing balances the fast-paced,
crushing chaos with ambient breaks. Such contrast calls for skilled production,
and Weltschemerz’ is top notch. The
sludge and chaos-laced riffs sound dirty and explosive while the ambient moments
are captured as pristinely as they should.
Weltschemerz is a
record that explores the feeling of agony stemming from loneliness and
involuntary solitude. We are, waste;
Beaten, broken, forgotten. Chained to our conscience; left in isolation.
Beaten, Broken, forgotten. The
reoccurring theme of contrast occurs within the vocals as well going back and
forth between high pitched demonic shrieks and emotionally-charged hardcore
shouts.
If you are a fan of the Deathwish
roster or love ambient black metal acts such as Wolves at the Throne Room or Deafheaven,
then Totem
Skin is a band you must absolutely listen to. It’s been a long while since I
have witnessed this much potential at the genesis stage of a metal band’s career.
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