By: Anders

Posted: Nov 1, 2005

The American crossover scene seems growing right as we speak, new and exciting and more importantly, hard hitting bands pop up all over the place. Skullshifter is of those new bands, and they are ready with their self-released debut mini CD "Here In Hell".

With a base in heavy and thrashy guitar riffs, controlled by a dominant and groovy drum-beat, a bass pulling more weight than gravity and relentless ear piercing vocals, is how the band attacks the unprepared listener. The drive from the guitars are immense and captivating, it's very hard not to get carried away and start off banging away, when hearing the riffs being blasted out of the speakers, in the bands' preferred mid-paced war. The riffs don't show much new-thinking, but damn how they are effective. The blend of heavy thrashing with a hardcore-like edge works very well, and catches on right away. The vocal has some hardcore edge over it as well, a nice and harsh yell, blowing off steam as the lyrics angrily are spat into our face, I guess the vocals will become a love or hate subject for many listeners, though old fans of the early crossover genre will for sure like it.

The compositions are well-made, clever and catchy, there are good hooks, and when they first grab the listener, they won't let go again. The music is simple, there aren't any fancy show offs or other technical features, it's straight ahead, with a few effective breaks and a good solo. Less is more is the philosophy and damn it works. The production of the album is sweet, the sound is heavy and thundering and the instruments come well through the wall of sound. It is Simon Efemey, who among others has worked with Napalm Death, that has mixed the album, and he has done a great job. And that the band chooses such a mixer shows how serious they are.

This is quite a debut from these 4 Americans, they are very serious with the music and promoting it, and hopefully that'll pay off. It will be a lie to say that they have delivered something new, they are following the path of good old crossover, with a very modern and up to date sound and a crushing and captivating groove, if there isn't a future for this band, there's something wrong with my ears!

Rating: 8/10

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