Throughout their career, Skeletonwitch have best been known for the way they weave together the worlds of black metal and thrash, creating a union between both worlds and offering something to fans across either aisle. Fifteen years into their body of work, they've decided to put a laser focus onto what they can craft with black metal, and thus their new album Devouring Radiant Light hits its mission statement for sound.
In "Temple of the Sun," the band decides to hone in on black metal's aggression over atmosphere. There's a grand entrance, but as soon as they deem it's time, they shift into playing at breakneck speeds, twisting tremolo picking over blast beats. There are faint hints of Skeletonwitch's penchant for other sounds — at times it dips into punkier moments — but everything gets snapped back into the cool embrace of black metal. The song caps off with a completely sweet solo that oozes emotion, letting the song close out on the highest note possible.
Stream "Temple of the Sun" below, and pre-order Devouring Radiant Light here. View all their tour dates below as well.
SKELETONWITCH NORTH AMERICAN LIVE DATES:
09/6: Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Music Festival
10/13: San Bernardino, CA - Glen Helen Amphitheater #
10/14: Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
10/16: Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Arena ^
10/17: San Diego, CA - Valley View Casino Center ^
10/19: Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena ^
10/20: Tustin, CA - Marty's On Newport
# w/ System of the Down, Incubus, At the Drive-In, Clutch, Pallbearer
^ - w/ System of a Down and At The Drive-In
SKELETONWITCH EUROPEAN LIVE DATES:
07/6: Roskilde, Denmark - ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
07/9: Robot - Budapest, Hungary
07/10: Bratislava, Slovakia - Fuga
07/11: Graz, Austria - Club Q
07/12: Ballenstedt, Germany - BANG YOUR HEAD
07/13: Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
07/14: Anyksciai, Lithuania - DEVILSTONE OPEN AIR
07/17: Roeselare, Belgium - De Verlichte Geest
07/18: Oberhausen, Germany - Kulttempel
07/19: Osnabruck, Germany - Bastard Club
07/20: Bertingen, Germany - RUDE
07/21: Weil am Reihn, Germany - BADEN IN BLUT
07/23: Tolmin, Slovenia - METAL DAYS
07/25: Brno, Czech Republic - Melodka
07/26: Munich, Germany - FREE & EASY
07/27: Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
07/28: Steenwijk, Netherlands - STONEHENGE FESTIVAL
07/29: Utrecht, Netherlands - De Helling
11/14: Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset #
11/15: Oslo, Norway - Krosset #
11/16: Gothenburg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers #
11/17: Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle #
11/19: Hannover, Germany - Musikzentrum #
11/20: Nuremburg, Germany - Hirsch #
11/21: Essen, Germany - Turock #
11/22: Zürich, Switzerland - Dynamo #
11/23: Stuttgart, Germany - KJH Hallschlag #
11/24: Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse #
11/26: Munich, Germany - Backstage #
11/27: Wien, Austria - Arena #
11/28: Graz, Austria - Explosiv #
11/29: Prague, Czech Republic - Nova Chmelnice #
11/30: Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz #
12/1: Berlin, Germany - SO 36 #
12/2: Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob #
12/4: Manchester, UK - Rebellion #
12/5: Birmingham, UK - Mama Roux's #
12/6: London, UK - Underworld #
12/7: Paris, France - Petit Bain #
12/8: Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof #
12/9: Rotterdam, Netherlands - Baroeg #
# - w/ Mantar
