SKUMSTRIKE - Deadly Intrusions (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

Just before the world was taken by storm with a pandemic, Skumstrike blew my mind with their comprehensive brand of black/speed/punk. On 2020’s Execution Void EP of only fifteen minutes, they managed to sell me instantaneously. With a newer love for extreme music, I found the Canadian duo to touch close to the powerviolence side of things due to the unforgiving delivery. Now, they’ve solidified this into the form of full length with Deadly Intrusions.

The debut album is every bit as intense as what we were given before, with just a slight hint of clarity amongst the extremely coarse finish. The noisy gradient over the guitars and borderline fuzzed vocal delivery is still ever so present, coating the metal oriented passages with the blackest tint. But the leads themselves stand out higher than they ever have before, be it the solos or the riffs. This is helpful, especially because some of the songs move right into the next, further bridging the already overwhelming songs.

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Interestingly, Deadly Intrusions commonly expresses its differences in tactic within the songs rather than from one to the other. Hardcore style breakdowns often give way to the faster passages, preventing anything from stagnating. Of course, you can still get songs that drive the faster punk roots deep into the foundation, carrying songs like “Panic Obsession” until it switches to a black metal bridge for an aesthetic change. “Another Shot Of Fear” is a great example of how the tracks grip you from the start without warning, this one exploding with extra kick via bass.
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The general feeling of anxiety, fear, and panic is clearly meant to be cast over the listener, based on the lyrics and the rapid fire of changing angles under such a deadly umbrella. Describing Skumstrike as intense would be a bit of an understatement. The fact that they manage to squeeze out any hint of catchiness or guitar cleanliness from this otherwise black pit of madness is nothing short of impressive. It’s one of those releases that’s over before you realize it.

Skumstrike​ - Deadly Intrusions was released April 8th, 2022 via Caligari Records

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Skumstrike can be found:
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