Review Summary: A worthy Death Metal Fiesta to close out 2025....but nothing that will register over the threshold of the new year
As this is my last ever album rating under this current user name, and this is one of the last legit “name brand” Metal albums to come down to the wire on 2025’s “Hey, does this get any consideration?” list, I’m here to help. And look, I’m all about applauding professionalism and talent…and Blood Red Throne absolutely tracks as a worthy band to lend an ear to….even at this late hour of pre-Santa deliveries. And hey, props to these gents for being highly competent musically; Siltskin confidently pushing forward Top-Grade Death Metal even if it’s late in the game for gaining critical acclaim. “Beneath The Means” is the first song worth mentioning, packing a solid punch that plays with some cool groove aesthetics that transcends the usual expectations. “Husk In The Grain” is even better….Groove fortified Death Metal that cheerleads some spirited Thrash sprints that creates impressive dynamic shifts within a sh*tstorm of chug-a-chug-a “you’ll like this ”Death Metal”, I swear” sentiments. Catchiness aside…I can imagine the high-fives between the band when the opening riff of “Necrolysis” was concocted….bummer they ruined it by taking the rest of the composition into well tread flailing territory that basically goes nowhere. Shame. “Anodyne Rust” is that sweet spot you find as a purveyor of fine Grinding Death Metal, picking apart the class and taking out the trash. Of the two “V” lead songs “Vermicular Heritage” wins the Pony over “Vestigial Remnants” via a higher sense of crushing groove and solid compositional skill. To be fair though, ALL OF IT gets the point across here. Closer “Marrow of the Earth” pounds with a confident closing statement that bores me, but your milage may vary. Hey look, at some point, we all all tap out when it no longer fuels us. Them's the breaks….
