Place of Skulls – The Black Is Never Far / 2006 Exile on Mainstream / 13 Tracks / http://www.placeofskulls.com / http://www.mainstreamrecords.de / Reviewed 31 March 2006

What type of metal is this? With Place of Skull’s first track on “The Black Is Never Far”, “Prisoner’s Creed” the band skillfully meshes together progressive metal with sludge and a more contemporary idea of rock to create something that is accessible without being devoid of content. With later tracks like “Sense of Divinity” the formula is not changed in the slightest. Why this works for Place of Skulls and not any other act is that the instrumentation present on a Place of Skulls song is absolutely stunning.

There is a classic sound to “The Black Is Never Far” that is simply not present in many other bands of the current period. By linking this classic style to a more current set of acts (like Slipknot and Disturbed), Place of Skulls has ensured a wide fan base for anything that they decide to release. Even when Place of Skulls moves into an instrumental-heavy style (which is the case with songs like “Darkest Hours”), the intensity that is present everywhere else on the disc shines through as clear as day. The confidence exerted by the band on every track on “The Black Is Never Far” means that songs that would normally be anemic (the meandering title track) are exercises in modifying emotions. What Place of Skulls do with their “The Black is Never Far” is create the evolutionary next step in popular rock. The music that issues forth on this disc is thoughtful while still being something that individuals can get behind; the band has paid their dues with their last few albums. Each of the songs work well together; individuals feel as if they are listening to movements in a symphony instead of single songs on an album.

Even if the band may seem to some to be stuck in a time vortex, songs like “We The Unrighteous” will find a place in all listener’s hearts regardless of musical tastes. The shouted-out chorus present during the track will get individuals up on the tables and bars all throughout America, while the shrill guitars of the follow-up track “Interlude” continues the momentum in much of the same way. Place of Skulls is a metal band that everyone can dig, and their music is perhaps some of the most talented to come out of this genre ever. By using the best pieces of all previous genres, the band is able to come up with a style that is fun and salient to everyone who listens in.

Top Tracks: We The Unrighteous, Apart From Me

Rating: 7.6/10

[JMcQ]