Exclusive: Skeletonwitch Premiere New Single, When Paradise Fades

Photo: Nico Poalillo

Skeletonwitch has always dabbled in black metal, with touches of the genre – along with plenty of thrash and death metal influence – seeping through the band's unique sound. Yet, on their sixth album, Devouring Radiant Light (out July 20 on Prosthetic Records), the band edges deeper into black metal territory than ever before, with blastbeats, guitar tremolo, and atmospheric intros aplenty.

Perhaps the evolution in sound can be credited to Converge's Kurt Ballou, who produced the album at his GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts. Perhaps it's due to the contributions from new frontman Adam Clemans, vocalist for blackened sludge metal band Wolvhammer. Or perhaps guitarists Nate Garnette and Scott Hedrick have just been listening to a hell of a lot of Immortal lately.

Whatever the reason may be, their new single, When Paradise Fades – the second track on the new album – is certainly in line with the rest of the black metal-tinged record. Garnette calls the song "a supercharged nano-epic that takes you from greasy rock'n'roll, to off-the-rails blackened destruction and beyond." He continues, "I tried to keep the intensity and grit front-and-center while making it a journey instead of a two-minute banger."

Kerrang! is thrilled to be able to present an exclusive first listen to this metal treasure, which has it all: power, speed, melody, groove, and sheer badassitude.   

Listen below to a band reborn:

If that properly whet your appetite, be sure to pre-order the album here!

And don't forget to catch the band live on tour! Hot off of a long North American run with Obituary and Pallbearer this past spring, Skeletonwitch hits Europe this month, and returns home for U.S. dates with System of a Down and At the Drive In this fall: 

SKELETONWITCH EUROPEAN LIVE DATES:

06/21: Linköping, Sweden - The Crypt
06/22: Oslo, Norway - TONS OF ROCK
06/23: Kiel, Germany - Kieler Schaubude
06/24: Weinheim, Germany - Cafe Zentraal
06/26: Zurich, Switzerland - Werk 21
06/28: Barcelona, Spain - Sala Upload
06/29: Zaragoza, Spain - Sala King Kong
06/30: Vitoria, Spain - Urban Rock Concept
07/02: Nantes, France - Ferreilleur
07/04: Hannover, Germany - Béi Chéz Heinz
07/06: Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
07/07: Bucharest, Romania - Metalhead Meeting
07/08: Cluj-Nopoca, Romania - Hard Club
07/09: 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

SKELETONWITCH U.S. LIVE DATES:

10/13: San Bernardino, CA - Glen Helen Amphitheater ^
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 ^

^ - w/ System of a Down and At The Drive In