Fumes - Skeletal Wings Threshold

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Fumes is a black metal band from Mexico, who formed just a few years ago in 2022.  After the release of their debut EP “Stellar Murders Upwards,” in 20222, the band proceeded to release a video and a live album.  The band has now dropped their full-length debut album “Skeletal Wings Threshold.”

Black metal is a genre which was formed for no other reason than to be a different sort of animal–against the grain of everything and pure misanthropic.  As much as I love the genre, and constantly amazed at its growth, so many black metal bands lack that original aesthetic that made black metal oddly appealing.  

“Skeletal Wings Threshold,” doesn’t have this issue; this album sounds raw and violent, the sort of music that would get you killed if you went back in time and played it to the wrong person.  There is a real sense of seething danger across the album, bolstered by the band attempting to bring to life the worshipful vision of Death.  A black metal band that actually worships Death?  Doesn’t get more necro and kvlt than that.  

With all that being said, there is a real presence to these songs.  It’s creepy and arcane but also well composed and structured.  It can even be darkly melodic at points too.  As I mentioned, it is raw but not overly so the searing edges of their music cut all the more deeper.

The album opens with “Stellar Ascension Infernal,” and it fires right out of the gate.  Twisting lead guitar runs across the top of melodic but speedy riffs and fortuitous drumming.  The vocals are fantastic with the right amount of echo on them.  Around the 1:50 mark, the song gets even more caustic, with a short but sweet guitar solo that ignites a passage of thrashy riffs. 

“Suppuration Tunnels,” begins with a flurry of furious drums as the guitars build up the rising action before the hammer drops around the 26 mark.  Nearly two minutes passes before the vocals rip through—-I like this surprising take on letting the music speak for itself first.  After the 4:10 mark, an unique solo precedes some of the best riffs on the album.

“Carrier of Venenifyer,” is one of my favorite songs on the album, due to its slow to mid-pace intro.  The riffs have a killer tone and it’s fantastic how the band just barrels through with riffs balanced between melody, groove, and blackened tone. Around the 4:  21 mark, the band pulls back on the tempo as the drums lay down explosive attacks over the increasingly morbid riffs

The second half of the album isn’t quite as strong, due to the album cramming two interludes and an outro in between two full songs.  These short instrumentals work in context of the album but individually they are not very strong.  This is a minor quibble but I just had to bring it up. 

But the final full song, “Plaguestorms,” is an absolute banger of a song.  The groove is maddening, like falling forever into unseen depths. I especially like the riffs and tempo around the 2:54 mark, very energetic with twisting riffs and howling blackened screams. 

Considering it's debut album, “Skeletal Wings Threshold,” is impressive and definitely puts the band on the right path towards their conquering of the underground.  I will definitely have this band on my radar, as I’m eager to see what they do next. 

Rating: Great











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