28 Jun 2021

Album review: Skulmagot - Kill and Die (2021)


Skulmagot - Kill and Die

Finland

Headsplit Records

When you look at the cover of this album you might get the impression that the band plays black/thrash, but that's definitely not the case here. If you want a good idea of what Skulmaggot sounds like, then just imagine a mix between bands like (old) Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, and Six Feet Under (Undead era).

In recent times, I’ve come across a lot of bands that sound like poor copycats of Cannibal Corpse, which seems to be a trend nowadays. That being said, the influence is undeniable here, but at least it’s not some uninspired carbon-copy of said band. It’s not a simple mortuary mantle that covers this decomposing corpse, but rather one already corroded with noxious fluids and worms that feed on the deceased. There’s a whole damn aura that surrounds their influences, which is stylistically more in the vein of Cannibal Corpse than Incantation, especially on the first track, "Coffin Relocation," which begins with a rotten riff and melody spawned straight from the darkest fringes of human thought. From that point on, everything spirals out of control and picks up speed. The vocals are surprisingly similar to Chris Barnes, and as the album progresses, one can easily make sense of why I referenced those three bands in the beginning of the review. All in all, it’s a killer and fun little release, despite its short duration of 20 minutes. These maniacs come highly recommended! (Catacombs Walker)