REVIEW: SKRYLLS - Songs About Life and Death

 

SKRYLLS - Songs About Life and Death

Independent

SKRYLLS' debut album, "Songs About Life and Death," offers a compelling and deeply felt journey through the complexities of human emotion, establishing a solid foundation in the realms of Gothic and Doom Metal. Listeners who appreciate the characteristic sounds of bands like Type O Negative, Anathema, and Paradise Lost will immediately find themselves at home, drawn in by the album's rich tapestry of melancholic melodies, powerful, heavy riffs, and an all-encompassing introspective atmosphere. While the stated influences of Alternative Metal, reminiscent of acts such as Alice in Chains, are subtly woven throughout, the album truly distinguishes itself through its theatrical and dramatic vocal interplay. The poignant dialogues between male and female voices, notably in tracks like "Lady Death" and "He Died Alone," are particularly impactful, significantly enhancing both the emotional depth and the narrative power of the songs.

Lyrically, "Songs About Life and Death" embarks on a profound exploration of the fragility of the human spirit and the omnipresence of mortality. The narratives frequently delve into raw themes of depression, despair, and emotional pain, painting vivid sonic pictures of a world shrouded in "heavy fog" and "black shadows." There's a recurring, palpable longing for release, often personified as "Lady Death" offering an escape from suffering. The album courageously confronts the tragic isolation of death, highlighted poignantly in the tribute to "The Green Man," and thoughtfully grapples with the intricate complexities of existence, even finding life in the face of another's demise.

Yet, amidst the pervading gloom, genuine glimmers of hope and resilience shine through in songs that speak to overcoming hardship and discovering inner strength, powerfully suggesting that even from "debris and dust," one can indeed rise. This profound lyrical depth draws from a rich lineage of both Gothic and Doom Metal bands—such as Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, and Type O Negative—and resonates with the introspective honesty found in the works of Romantic and Gothic poets like Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson, as well as the raw, confessional style of poets such as Sylvia Plath.

The album's visual presentation further enhances its thematic resonance; the cover features a striking, melancholic portrayal of Orlando SKRYLLS himself, an image that could thoughtfully bring to mind a more introspective Alice Cooper. This evocative visual choice perfectly complements the album's somber yet powerful sound, serving as a fitting prelude to the gothic and doom metal heart that pulses throughout this compelling debut.

Nick Parastatidis

Skrylls Official · Songs about life and death