The Skull
The Skull keeps Trouble close to the heavy riffs and dark melodies of Psalm 9. The band do not search for a new surface for their music. Attention goes to the connection between the guitars, changes of pace and Eric Wagner's worn voice. The result is a gloomy doom album with enough movement to avoid becoming static.
Pray for the Dead starts with a firm groove. The riffs carry blues-based weight and leave sufficient room for the singing. Wagner sounds strained and slightly nasal, but his delivery has clear personality. He does not need to overpower the guitars to hold attention.
Fear No Evil is among the most direct songs. Driving passages and brief interruptions give the riffs additional momentum. Solos and a memorable chorus make it accessible without losing the weight. The combination of doom and traditional metal works especially well here.
The Wish chooses a much larger form. Acoustic guitar and string-like sounds open a composition in which several riffs and long melodic lines follow each other. The band try to develop the feeling over a greater distance. Not every passage seems equally necessary, but its best moments explain why this music wants more space than an ordinary rock song.
That limitation extends further. Some ideas return so recognisably that the surprise fades. The record is not consistently as tight and direct as the debut's best work. Its two guitars nevertheless continue to support each other convincingly, and Wagner gives the songs an individual face. The religious themes change little about that: musically, The Skull deals in heavy riffs and tangible sorrow. Traditional doom listeners will find strong melodies and convincing interplay, even if every song does not land equally hard.
