Skelator
Death to All Nations

September 2010
Released: 2010, Metal on Metal Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Luxi Lahtinen

Having been in existence for a long 12 years, but without any proper full-length studio album, against all odds the US flag bearers for wiping all the wimps and posers away from the face of the earth, Skelator, have managed to gain a decent underground fanbase behind them during all these years. Now, 12 years later since the band was put together, these epic speed/heavy metal merchants' debut full-length album, titled DEATH TO ALL NATIONS, has finally been released on the Italian Metal on Metal Records, who seem to have sharp eyes (or ears would be a more proper organ as reference to this) for some quality (underground) metal bands.



DEATH TO ALL NATIONS, with all its 8 poser-killing and wimp-crushing hymns in it, trust to some firm and unwavering traditions of 80s-fashioned speed and heavy metal, basically offering a fair load of what could be taken from the notebooks of (more or less) metal icons like early Maiden, Manowar, early Overkill, Helstar, Liege Lord and so forth - keeping things very near the (true) speed/heavy metal ground, and counting on themselves 100% that there still might be a bunch of people around this globe that love what they do. Well, I do – and I am pretty sure I am not alone here in throwing the occasional thumbs up for them every time when I am spinning this album through.



From all aspects, Skelator have managed to record 8 beautifully floating, very catchy epic speed/heavy metal songs for their debut full-length studio album that would deserve a mass acceptance from every self-respecting metalhead in this world. I already know this ain´t gonna be happening for them, which is a true pity because they do wipe the dirty floors with all Bullet For My Valentines/Triviums/Killswitch Engages, etc. that a younger generation of ´metalheads´ unfortunately consider some of the best metal that has been produced in this world.



While listening to DEATH TO ALL NATIONS, I can only admire these fellows´ dedication, loyalty and sheer talent for delivering their goods so convincingly on this record; by sticking to the basic rules of heavy metal (keep it heavy, keep it catchy, keep it honest, avoid sounding like kids´ most favorite ´MTV metal band of 2010´, etc.) and making their very best out of them. Skelator has succeeded in putting together a high-caliber speed metal-tinged, pure heavy metal album that doesn´t pale in comparison to some of the most classic and respected 80s metal albums – neither content- or quality-wise. Skelator has surely visited at the backyard of Maiden, Manowar, Agent Steel – hell, even Slayer (check out “Circle of Bloodshed” – and you will notice why), etc. many times during their career, and it has paid off for them in a really nice way on D.T.A.N., made it all truly worth it.



DEATH TO ALL NATIONS is a pure celebration march to the 80s metal bands with waving proud flags high raised in the air, and I bet many of you want to join and support it along with these 5 masterful lads in the Skelator camp.