Skeletonwitch has always dabbled in black metal, with touches of the genre – along with plenty of thrash and death metal influence – seeping through the band’s unique sound. Yet, on their sixth album, Devouring Radiant Light (out July 20 on Prosthetic Records ), the band edges deeper into black metal territory than ever before, with blastbeats, guitar tremolo, and atmospheric intros aplenty.

Perhaps the evolution in sound can be credited to Converge’s Kurt Ballou, who produced the album at his GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts. Perhaps it’s due to the contributions from new frontman Adam Clemans, vocalist for blackened sludge metal band Wolvhammer. Or perhaps guitarists Nate Garnette and Scott Hedrick have just been listening to a hell of a lot of Immortal lately.



Whatever the reason may be, their new single, When Paradise Fades – the second track on the new album – is certainly in line with the rest of the black metal-tinged record. Garnette calls the song ”a supercharged nano-epic that takes you from greasy rock’n’roll, to off-the-rails blackened destruction and beyond.” He continues, “I tried to keep the intensity and grit front-and-center while making it a journey instead of a two-minute banger.”

Kerrang! is thrilled to be able to present an exclusive first listen to this metal treasure, which has it all: power, speed, melody, groove, and sheer badassitude.

Listen below to a band reborn: