Review SKULL & CROSSBONES ‘Sungazer’

Actually, skull and crossbones are more connected to piracy and Jolly Roger. In this case though Skull & Crossbones are connected to witchery. The reason here for? A few members of the band, hailing from Gerstetten, Germany, have roots with Stormwitch. Jürgen Wannewetsch, Marc Oppold, Volker Schmietow and Toby Kipp, they all have been part of the legendary underground metal outfit.

In 2019 the four guys found together again and after having recruited with Tobi Hübner an excellent singer, the line-up was ready for working on songs. A few months after having released with ‘Sungazer’ the title track of the new album, the longplayer follows as we speak.

‘Sungazer’ features ten songs and what gets out of the speakers sounds pretty good. The first things that’s recognizable is the dense and powerful sound which surely benefits songs like the smashing ‘Manhunter’.

Skull & Crossbones is a metal band and what fans get to hear on the debut album is traditional heavy metal. This might not be a thrilling innovation but is very entertaining. Heavy riffing and well-crafted vocal lines are the captivating factor that is embedded in each of the ten tracks. On the other side the band has also a great sense for the soulful tones; that is what you expect when ‘Tyrant’s Rule’ starts. The acoustic intro though turns quickly into a heavy pounding metal tune.

The up-tempo ‘Nature’s Legacy’ follows, and while ‘Inner Self’ spreads its dark vibe. ‘Live Your Dreams’ is a traditional power ballad before the metal beast gets unleashed with ‘The Drowned’ before ‘The Traveller’ heralds the end of this interesting album.

‘Sungazer’ is shining debut of a band that has a musical vision and follows their heart. Skull & Crossbones play metal with a Swabian down-to-earth approach and it’s the metal heart that drives this album more than fancy new ideas.