Skeletal Remains: Desolate Isolation (2011)

This is the first demo by one of the more impressive retro death metal bands in recent years.  Skeletal Remains is definitely a throwback to early 1990's death metal.  They sound very much like a combination of groups like Pestilence and Malevolent Creation.  This is further exemplified by the fact that the final song on the release is a cover of Pestilence's "Chronic Infection".

There are just four songs on this release and it is very short otherwise.  The band is still raw and finding themselves.  The songs are just straightforward old school death metal, but delivered with an honesty and sincerity that tends to be lacking in bands who are just looking to hop on the trends.  The release is filled to the brim with savage riffs and biting vocals, but the songs are also catchy as hell.  Of particular note is the guitar work of Chris Monroy, who has made a name for himself in the underground death metal scene of late, appearing on albums by Warbringer, Fetid Zombie and Carnation.  He is a rising star in the genre and this release shows why.

More than anything, this release is a sign of things to come from Skeletal Remains.  The band has released several very impressive albums in recent years, with Devouring Mortality from last year being one of the better death metal albums in that time period.  This demo probably has more appeal to huge fans, but it is impressive enough to be a good starting point for the band.