June, 2007: After a year and several months of existence, Skull With Wings has decided to disband. Thank you to everyone who listened to our music, came to shows, helped us out, and got in touch. It's been a blast! For those of you still waiting for tapes, we have not forgotten about you, and you will get them...eventually. My apologies for the extreme delay. Take care, and feel free to contact us through this page. Someone will check it once and a while.
PRESS: The Good, The Bad, AND The Ugly...
Yeah, they did something different. And it totally works! Slow dark dirges with creepy keyboards straight into manic arty lurching KBD punk. I read a TRAGIC MULATTO comparison on the-website-that-shall-not-be-named-in-public, and while I fully agree, I would like to go one step deeper and compare them to the early 80s Pennsylvania act BILLY SYNTH AND THE TURN UPS, though I realize that will mean almost nothing to almost everybody. Two or three vocalists here, though the highlight is certainly the female almost operatic assaults that appear every couple of songs. Raw and psychotic, these songs are simply fucking weird, and while lots of folks will likely dismiss them (the songs and the band), I champion them for pushing the limits and not fitting into any mold whatsoever. The more I listen, the more I like. Three thumbs up (yeah, I'm a mutant, whatver). (Robert)
Slug and Lettuce #89, Autumn 2006
Not sure exactly what it is that these guys are trying to do, but I'm pretty sure they use many a drug in the process. Tons of weird songs that have a hardcore root to them, and are played sloppy as hell (in a good way). Lots of star trek sound effects thrown in the mix. (NW)
HEARTATTACK, issue 50 (final issue...sniff)
SxWxW are kinda a raw-psycho hardcore-dirge punk band, with keyboards, and some operatic female vocals underlying all the songs. For those of you who want to check out some experimental weirdness - plus its available for free! (MW)
SHORT, FAST, & LOUD (mosh of ass), number 15
Skull With Wings at times seem to be following in the tradition of Tragic Mulatto and the more arty punk bands who still totally rocked it underneath the freakshow. They they play mid-tempo punk songs that seem to be more of the Midwest emo expressive Planit-X scene. The vocals vary depending on the singers - sing songy, screechy, and somewhere in the middle. Keep stretching those boundaries. (Erin)
MAXIMUM ROCK N' ROLL (demos), number 277, June '06
Courtesy of Cream Of The Crop Fanzine, Skull With Wings appeared on our doorstep, fluttering in the wind... I mean seriously, haven't you ever seen a skull flying about your house? It's actually pretty cool, other than the fact that the fuckers don't ever put themselves down on land... They have no legs! Alright, that was bad, but this fifteen track debut CD from the band Skull With Wings is something to behold. The sound produced by the band reminds me very much of several recent reviews including PPR, Guaranteed Katch, the Dick Panthers, and a few others from the Reality Impaired collection. Its kind of a loose collection of noise, that ultimately works out into something that is coherent and listenable. Skull With Wings play experimental punk rock, that occassionally suffers from the production side of things, but the album has a tangible feel and solid direction. Most of the tracks on here, unsurprisingly, are less then a minute long...but it really gives the disc another dimension, similar to other experimental punk noise albums. It's a good theng that the band is trying many different soudns and cramming them into a very brief explosion of power. Most of the time, I find the band to drift more into a hardcore screamo rock music, very similar to Anal Cunt. On the whole though, the disc is interesting for the combination of sounds that get thrown together, including the bizarre usage of an organ or synth on acid, decent guitar work and clawing, feirce lead vocals that more often than not, make each song something out of the ordinary. For fans of punk rock that's a bit out there at times, but still coherent enough to listen to, Skull With Wings is a release to check out. -(MG)
HUSSIESKUNK, Ohio, USA (hussieskunk.com)
Skull With Wings, are from Cambridge/Framingham, Massachusetts in the US. And I have to say their music is truly one of a kind, and absolutely nothing for the fainthearted. Described as "carelessly played punkrock with a synth", it is one creative constellation, pumping out fast and mind dazzling punk-influenced trash/hardcore. I can't say the sound quality is one of the best out there, not at all. But I don't think you should let that fool you, the record is a real charming one, created with loads of crazy ideas and noise. In some aspects it even reminds me of "Melt-Banana" with its organized chaos hardcore, and that's definitely a positive thing. Can't say all of the tracks on the CD are good, some are even boring. I believe they have a great potential, so give this band some time to get settled and experienced, I promise they'll have a smoking record, with a way better sound too!(Andreas)
FOLKZINE, Sweden
This band are seriously let down by the quality of the recording (like so many). Its lo-fi to the extreme, and really does the band a major disservice. Ive never understood how a band can take the time and effort to craft a song. Then allow the work they have put into it be diminished by poor recording. Skull with Wings are a prime example of this. They are the diamonds in the rough, but who cares enough to sift through these fifteen tracks to say that they show promise? Very few is the answer. Ultimately the band are limiting their appeal by releasing this. Skull with Wings are a good band, with an interesting direction being taken, a progressive hardcore punk band that defy the listener to allocate them a style. Musicianship = A+, Concept = A+, Recording Quality = Must do better. (Mainy)
EL DIABLO, Scotland
This demo was recorded only a few weeks ago, is the bands first, was recorded live to a four track, and are available for free from the band. The second and third part above is noticeable and the fourth is a smart move. I don't wanna write this off as complete crap, but I can't say I think it's good either. Carelessly played punkrock with a synth creating weird sounds and some hints towards more noisy chaos. But if they think they're creating new stuff by adding the song that goes backwards I think they're completely off, that's just plain bad. There are potential and with more experience, better songwriting, and better sound this can become an innovative bunch that more people will enjoy. I'm not sure I will, but that's another story.
The tape has fifteen tracks and, again, is free - so give it a try, you never know. [Krogh, March 2006]
ATTACK! FANZINE, Sweden
