SHED THE SKIN (USA) – ‘Thaumogenesis’ LP Gatefold

100% SATANIC DEATH, as they intended from day one – but given dazzling new twists. For one, while the preceding The Forbidden Arts showed the band at their most varied, Thaumogenesis brings even more variety whilst remaining deadly focused. The riffs club and slash, grinding and also graceful, with electrifying and immediately memorable solos flying fast and free; Severn’s drums anchor this shapeshifting attack with a dervish-like mix of speed and stomp. Secondly, the production here is impeccable, proving one can “clean up” without losing an ounce of grit or grime; every note, drum hit, and torn vocal cord sizzles with a clarity that’s more crushing than ever. But, more than anything, it’s SHED THE SKIN’s songwriting across the album that puts Thaumogenesis into a masterclass all its own, proving that death metal can stay pure ‘n’ proud but also move forward. Credit for that must also go to Incantation’s Chuck Sherwood, who once again provides lyrical concepts, which cover an array of topics including Scottish pagan tribal warfare, ancient Persian goddess worship, Mongolian/Siberia sacrificial rites, Belarusian shapeshifting rituals, Judean/Arab conquests, Roman ritual curses, Hindu death cults, and classic demonology.