Rotten Inside Out
Skeletal
•
December 9, 2014

Finnish Death Metallers SKELETAL take you on a trip in the Way-Back Machine on their debut EP, "Rotten Inside Out." The four songs here draw heavily from the sonic blueprint laid out by the Death Metal heavyweights of the late 80s/early 90s, but still make for a fun listen.
If you're even somewhat familiar with the genre, there's probably not a whole lot that will surprise you about any of the songs here, which take cues from groups like AUTOPSY, DISMEMBER, and especially early DEATH. However, sometimes knowing what you're going to get when you press 'play' is a good thing, and SKELETAL certainly do what they do well enough to get heads banging. The songs are played mostly at mid-fast paces, with the kind of raw, baleful riffs that are cornerstones of the Death Metal genre, and the sinister leads that populate skull-crushing offerings like "Rotting Inside Out" and "Death By Burning" are like the cherry on top. Samuel's hoarse shouts aren't especially impressive, but they certainly reinforce the vibe the band is going for on each song. While the band's approach is consistent across each song, there are still a number of good moments across the EP, including the entirety of "Intelligent Design", whose catchy riffs, relentless drums, and ferocious attitude represent the best, and indeed most fully-realized, of the album's four tracks.
"Rotten Inside Out" is as honest and unapologetic a display of old-school Death Metal as one is likely to come across. As mentioned, fans of early DEATH and like bands will definitely find merit in this release, as anyone with an appetite for Death Metal will surely be satisfied with it.<
7 / 10
Good
"Rotten Inside Out" Track-listing:
1. Rotting Inside Out
2. Intelligent Design
3. Guilt Trip
4. Death By Burning
Skeletal Lineup:
Samuel - Guitar, Vocals
Markus - Lead Guitar
Roope - Bass
Josa - Drums
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