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Skullview: Metalkill the World
Skullview Metalkill the World new music review

Skullview: Metalkill the World

Traditional Heavy/Power Metal
3.5/5.0

Pure Steel Records
www.myspace.com/skullview
www.skullview.com
Review: Craig Hartranft,  07.26.2010

Underground American metal legends Skullview started in a time when they were destined to fail. It was 1995, and with the rise of grunge and post punk in America, the environment was not favorable to this handbanging gang ten years late from metal's heyday. But with steel in their veins and passion in their souls, Skullview went on to release three albums of traditional heavy/power metal, against all odds, the late 1990s. This year they return with their fourth album Metalkill the World, on Germany's Pure Steel Records.

From the title of the album, you know where this work is going. Old school traditional heavy metal rules the day here. Skullview blasts away invading your skull by hammering your ears with a twin guitar attack, a heavy, freight train rhythm section, and Mike "Earthquake" Quimby's piercing metal vocals. Quimby is in excellent form here: enthusiastic and strong, reminding of a Michael Lee (Barren Cross) mixed with generous amounts of Halford.

While Metalkill the World gets off to a shaky start with questionable Legions of the Star Scroll, they redeem themselves quickly with three thundering numbers: The Bruise, MetalKill the World, and phenomenal Behind the Cell. Quimby shows his raspy soaring power on Blind and Unconscious. They heavy metal thunders on to the end, but with little variation. And this may be Metalkill the World's single flaw, an audible redundancy permeates the whole. Their desire to be at their crushing headbanging best ultimately collapses in upon itself as they pummel along. Yet, Skullview seems better when the song is either compact, like Behind the Cell, where the show they know the fundamentals, or lengthy, as on Blind and Unconscious, where they display their ability to stretch their skills.

Nevertheless, for a pure example of traditional heavy/power metal from the American underground (or elsewhere, for that matter), you can't go wrong with Indiana's Skullview. Their fourth release is definitely the real 'true' metal deal.




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In Short

For a pure example of traditional heavy/power metal from the American underground (or elsewhere, for that matter), you can't go wrong with Indiana's Skullview. Their fourth release is definitely the real 'true' metal deal.

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