Skeletal Remains – Fragments of the Ageless
Release Date: 8th March 2024
Label: Century Media
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Frozen Soul, Dying Fetus.
Review By: Eric Wilt
If you’ve been listening to death metal juggernaut Skeletal Remains for very long at all, you know that they are nothing if not consistent. Through line-up changes and global pandemic, Skeletal Remains has remained intent on obliterating the world with blistering death metal that fits neatly somewhere between the progenitors of the genre and the next big thing. Featuring longtime guitarist and vocalist Chris Monroy and guitarist Mike De La O with the addition of newcomers, bassist Brian Rush and drummer Pierce Williams, Skeletal Remains has created another piece of death metal perfection in the form of their newest full length, Fragments of the Ageless.
It’s not like Skeletal Remains ever lacked brutality, but according to Monroy, Fragments of the Ageless is “more brutal than the last one.” He continues, “We were pushing ourselves to be more extreme—vibing on that as much as possible.” And extreme they are. A good example of this is Cybernetic Harvest, which is pummeling death metal from the opening note and Void of Despair, which is an in-your-face rager. As for brutality, the opening track, Relentless Appetite as well as Verminous Embodiment see the band harness pure aggression in musical form. And just when you thought Skeletal Remains was all speed and blastbeats, the final track, Evocation (The Rebirth) is a mid-paced instrumental full of groove that even strays into doom metal for a minute or two.
All in all, Skeletal Remains has turned in another exciting death metal album. With no frills and no crap, Fragments of the Ageless is 43 minutes of pure brutality that will further cement their place among the elite death metal bands of the 21st century.
(4.5 / 5)
