From the land of the most traditional metal you can think of, with bands like SCORPIONS, ACCEPT and MICHAEL SCHENKER just to name a few, Germany presents us yet another traditional metal style band with SKULLS & CROSSBONES. The band started a few years ago as STORMWITCH with an album released in 2018. Then, they switched to a new singer and came back in 2023 as SKULLS & CROSSBONES releasing their first album Sungazer. Let’s check out what they are all about!

The first track is “Midnight Fire”, a very traditional kind of 80/90s metal with a somewhat modern dressing. Dueling guitars and some epicness in the melody and arrangement. The band gives me total NWOBHM vibes from the start despite being from Germany. A great riff and double bass madness starts the album title second track “Sungazer”. On this track we can see the range of the new singer Tobi Hübner. The guy can reach some piercing high notes MERCYFUL FATE style. The band also gives a little medieval touch to their melodies remembering one of those themed metal bands with costumes and a more elaborate stage presence, however, this is not in the band's proposal it seems. This tune ends with a nice piano arrangement. We follow with “Manhunter” with the overly used chug chug chug riff, followed by a nice chorus. The band members seem from an older generation (my generation) than the singer and it is understandable that older classical metal bands are the main fountain they drink. Just add younger pipes to secure the high notes and you are good to go. This tune has a classical music innuendo close to the end  and this is a common connection that this genre offers. Metal with classical music has always been a match, right INGWE?

 A  more eerie vibe is felt on “The Invisible Man”. A slower tempo, almost remembering a military march dictates the mood. Some more double bass expertise from the good drummer Marc Oppold and a catchy melody defines this tune. We start “Tyrant’s Rule” with an acoustic intro and another traditional classic metal sequence of riffs ensue. You can feel the bass lines from Jürgen Wannenwetsch dancing with the guitars. Competent bass player and does not compromise. The band really has a medieval, kind of epic touch in every song  but their themes are not about just kings or battles. No ballads so far. “Nature’s Legacy” starts with energy, a faster tempo and great riffage. Maybe the song with the higher vocal register until now. Despite the great output, you always have the impression that you have heard something similar before and, if you are an old metalhead like me, their sound reminds me of 100 different bands. The melodies are also very close to power speed metal. If you double the drum tempo in certain songs, it will sound like ANGRA, or DRAGONFORCE.

 The seventh tune is “Inner Self” with the guitar riff following the same melody of the vocals. The band is capable of delivering different moods in a single song and their music composition and arrangements is quite good. Perhaps it lacks originality, and this is understandable as this is a difficult genre that has been already explored by major bands for many years. An ethereal mood introduces “Live Your Dream” and, as the title indicates, is surely the unavoidable ballad. Acoustic guitars and a big piano in the background are followed by a suffering vocal melody. That is the same formula used in all the great ballads of the genre and it always works (mostly with your girlfriend). You can't fault a band for composing a good ballad as this is an intrinsic part of Metal. A lot of the great ballads come from hard rock and metal bands.

We go back to heavy with “The Drowned”. Another high energy, faster (but not too much) tempo and high screams as part of the melody. Their main lyric themes are about personal struggle and relationships and they are loosely detached to the usual themes of the genre. I was just not able to find the lyricist. We end the album with “The Traveller” that starts with a guitar riff glued on a phaser pedal effect. Another good tune with some sing along chorus and the usual nice guitar work from the duo Volker Schmietow and Stobi Kipp. Musicianship is solid with this band and having 2 guitar players is always a plus. Good riffs and solos from both, remembering great guitar duos of the genre like Dave Murray and Adrian Smith or Glenn Tipton and KK Downing.

Good release overall and I hope the band stays with the current formation and do not wait too long to start working on a follow up album. As it happens with all the bands that are coming up or coming back in the 2020’s playing the same sacred metal style of giants of the genre in the 80/90’s, it is hard to come up with new ideas within the style, but still this should be pursued so you can differentiate yourself from the rest. Solid start for a band with an open future and hopefully we should be able to see some live performances for this album on Youtube and their progress.