Angry Metal Guy
I don’t know how some people can keep creating art for so long. Somehow fucking Clint Eastwood is still making movies, and that guy looked ancient when Gran Torino came out in 2008. Shed the Skin aren’t as old as Clint, but they’ve got a wealth of experience nonetheless. Formed in 2011 as a tribute to the long-defunct Ohio death metal group Blood of Christ, this sort-of-supergroup are comprised of several extreme metal veterans, including vocalist/guitarist Ash Thomas (Faithxtractor, Crucified Mortals), drummer Kyle Severn (Incantation), bassist Ed Stephens (Ringworm), and guitarist Matt Sorg (Ringworm, ex-Blood of Christ). On their previous four albums, the group offered up fun, no-nonsense death metal characterized by a sense of frenetic melody. While 2018’s We of Scorn was their high point to me, they’ve never released anything bad, though I agree with Akerblogger that 2020’s The Forbidden Arts was a bit too bloated. With The Carnage Cast Shadows, the group are back again, here to ostensibly show us that these olde dogs still got it.
And honestly, they kind of do. The Carnage Cast Shadows shows Shed the Skin still doing what they do best, all while sounding as inspired as a spritely young act just releasing their debut. As before, these songs largely barrel forward with a sense of belligerent glee, often carried by dexterous, melodic guitar lines that recall later Carcass. The opening title track highlights this energy right from the start, kicking open the gates with fast, pummeling drums and a quick, wriggly riff that’s sure to burrow its way into your brain. The next track, “Crook of the Sacred Skies,” keeps up the momentum with similarly swift tempos while avoiding redundancy via the harsher chords of its main riff. Through it all, Ash sounds as wild as ever, with his manic, garbled growls occasionally overlaid with higher, raspier vocals in a way that recalls Deicide.
The Carnage Cast Shadow by SHED THE SKIN
Given Shed the Skin’s pedigree, it’s unsurprising that they know how to make an album work well, but The Carnage Cast Shadows is particularly successful due to its variety and tight track lengths. Songs like “Ice Hearted Herald” and “Henge Tomb” mix things up by slowing the tempo early, but it’s in the record’s back half where things get especially good. The opening moments of crossover thrash in “Formorian Hordes” initially make it seem like it’s going to be a repurposed Ringworm song before the track takes an awesome turn by incorporating jumpy couplets and a swirling, melodic solo that recalls modern Kreator. “Scion of Nyx” slings chunky chords at the listener and uses a dramatic pause to great effect, while the closing track, “Stolen from the Storm God,” uses a more measured main melody to end the album in fine form.
In all, there’s little to complain about. While songs like “Swarm and Talons” and “The Mind’s Vermin” don’t stand out as much as their brethren, there really isn’t a bad cut here, and the fact that many of these eleven songs are less than four minutes long means that nothing overstays its welcome. The biggest issue is the string of mid-tempo songs in the record’s first half, which subdues the energy a bit too much after the pit bull viciousness of the first two tracks. Fortunately, the production is great, with punchy drums, a beefy guitar tone, and a forceful overall sound. As always, the performances are also sizzling with inspiration, with each member sounding like they’re giving it their all and having an absolute blast while doing so. Matt and Ash deliver an endless onslaught of lively riffs and solos, Kyle delivers an aggressive drum performance, and seemingly every moment is crammed with Ash’s crazed vocals.
No one’s going to say this album is reinventing death metal, but that’s not the point of Shed the Skin. This project is about dudes who are good at death metal playing good death metal. On The Carnage Cast Shadows, they’ve succeeded by offering inspired performances, varied songs, and tight runtimes. Those who have been following Shed the Skin are sure to enjoy this as much as anything they’ve done, and in the book of Mark Z, it’s one of their best releases yet. Take the plunge and bang that fukkin head!
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Websites: shed-the-skin.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/shedtheskin
Releases Worldwide: May 16th, 2025
The post Shed the Skin – The Carnage Cast Shadows Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
Tue May 20 11:09:45 GMT 2025