SKYLINER – Condition Black

Jacksonville in Florida’s north-east shouldn’t be condemned just because Limp Bizkit hails from there. Jacksonville has more to offer. SKYLINER, for example, who appeared on the metal scene two years ago with their excellent album, „Outsiders“ and who immediately made their mark on the genre with their musical brew of Power and Prog Metal elements. The Americans sounded distinctly European, something that did not only make friends in their hometown. But they bit the bullet and carried on, working through local clubs and began writing songs for their follow-up album. „Condition Black“ built up on „Outsiders“ dipping a toe into new musical spheres and showed a band trying to find its new self without turning its back on its influences. Not an easy task but in the end the lads are to be congratulated on the success of the experiment.

In a musical sense they became more experimental, the songs are different to those on the predecessor, the sound reaches further into the past. „Condition Black“ is certainly an album which is not meant to be just music in the background.

The progged influences cannot be overlooked and they have moved somewhat away from the traditional Power Metal elements which stamped the predecessor album. The vocals became rawer and one could almost say that „Condition Black“ shows a band built on an entirely new musical base, turning down the sound to its most important elements. What may sound at first as unstructured and inconsistent soon shows its very own appeal.

„As Above, So Below (Those Who From Heaven To Earth Came)“ is a fast, straight number definitely in the style of Rage. In contrast to that is „The Morbid Architect“, a track whose growls and blast beats is almost frightening, but which is surprisingly good thanks to the combination with thrashy-fast metal passages. The progged, fast „Too Many Voices“ is one of the highlights of the album, as is „Your Hand In Mine“. The listener should not prejudge the album before listening it through, letting him- or herself be carried along, putting memories and opinions of the band to one side and giving the new a chance. SKYLINER certainly don’t make it easy with this new album, but isn’t it the unusual sound and style of a band which give new perspectives? „Condition Black“ is exactly one of those rare albums.

 

Tracklisting:

Total playing time 60:52

 

• Second album of the US trio which has now torn down musical barriers and set new accents on its sound.
• The long-awaited follow-up to their superb debut album.
• For musically open-minded fans who appreciate and prefer albums with great variety.