Skullcrush - Visions of the Firestorm Eclipse

SKULLCRUSH - Visions of the Firestorm Eclipse (RAW SKULL Rekordz CD 2018)

This band name suggests that your skull is going to be crushed when you listen to the album – and it seems to be quite accurate, I think. Skullcrush’s music definitely sounds like a skullcrushing motherfucker. First you will feel strongly deafened, then suddenly blood will start to flow from your ears, giving you also terrible head ache. Soon more liquids will flow from nose and eyes, taking away all senses from you... And finally a crushing riff will turn your head into a horrid pulp of brain, skin and bones. Not a nice view, but Skullcrush music is not nice at all! Which means it is great haha! So, come on death metal bangers! 

Yeah. "Visions of the Firestorm Eclipse" is first recording from this American band and it’s definitely a solid start. I like the savagery and brutality of their music, as well as raw, harsh sound, because it has a brutal, underground, dark feeling, which is often so missed among current death metal recordings. This stuff sounds nasty and obscure, so do not expect it to be nice! Skullcrush does incorporate few melodic lines here and there, especially in slower, doomy parts - and the result it definitely a good one, but their music is mostly focused on brutal, quite mid to fast paced vicious death metal, such as "Spectacle of Suffering", the opening song, which is a manifestation of sheer violence and aggression. And it's the best song here, especially with these beastly vocals. With "Mists of Blood" Skullcrush continues their caveman death metal, but the tempo slows down a bit and everything gets even more heavy. This is a solid song and towards its end there's one absolutely fantastic melodic riff - a real standout of this demo, in my opinion. Finally "Hellwater" delivers some killer doomy riffs, which does work for me perfectly, and this is another my favourite fragment of "Visions...". And frankly, I would hope to hear more such stuff from Skullcrush. This CD contains only about 20 minutes of music, but I have to say that it’s been an enjoyable effort and a recommendable release. 

And the only thing I don't like about "Visions of the Firestorm Eclipse" is the artwork, with Conan the Barbarian on it, it just doesn't fit in my opinion. But that is not something what would have any importance to me, anyway. So, give a listen to Skullcrush and enjoy this death metal filth!!! Good stuff! 

Standout tracks: "Spectacle of Suffering", “Hellwater” 

Verdict: 70/100