SKELETOON – They Never Say Die

Skeletoon describe themselves as Nerd Metal pioneers because they take inspiration from what they call “…a natural love for the “geek” world of cult movies, video games and comics…” They needn’t be hard on themselves. They have plenty of company. Any Metalhead can quickly name at least five bands just as nerdy. How about Rush, Iron Maiden, Dio, Running Wild, Blind Guardian, and Amon Amarth? Nerdy storytellers. Skeletoon score nerd points for owning it but the emphasis comes with a cost. The listener may dismiss them outright. That would be unfortunate. Setting aside the lyrical homage to the 80s movie The Goonies, They Never Say Die shares similarities with Helloween, Edguy and Gamma Ray which fans could appreciate.

“Hell-O” and “Hoist Our Colors” quickly dispel the cartoon in Skeletoon. They deliver high speed Power Metal with precise riffing, melodic keyboard, solid percussion and a strong vocalist. What they and other songs lack are memorable hooks. These songs aspire to rally the spirit or pluck at the heart strings but instead create resistance to familiar musical manipulation.

All is not lost, however. “The Truffle Shuffle Army: Bizardly Bizarre” is a memorable name and has remarkable choral harmonies and uplifting guitar melodies. It is far and away the best song on the album. “Last Chance” imparts a feeling of authentic sincerity; it has a traditional construct and precise execution. The catchy chorus makes it above average. Choral harmonies return in “The Chain Master” with excellent results while “When Legends Turn Real” successfully uses its extended duration to vary tempos and textures.

Skeletoon may promote They Never Say Die as a movie tribute album, but the casual listener will have difficulty making a discernible connection to the movie. Ultimately, it’s a G-rated album performed with precision and skill without engaging power hooks.

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TRACKLIST (Highlights: 3, 6, 8, 9)

1. Intro/Hell-O
2. Hoist Our Colors (feat. Ivan Castelli as “Capt. Jack Sparrow”)
3. The Truffle Shuffle Army: Bizardly Bizarre (feat. Alessandro Conti as “Chunk”)
4. To Leave A Land
5. They Never Say Die
6. Last Chance (feat. Michele Luppi as “Jake Fratelli”)
7. I Have The Key (feat. Morby as “Chester Copperpot”)
8. The Chain Master (feat. David Arredondo Gomez as “Sloth”)
9. When Legends Turn Real (feat. Mark Basile as “One Eyed Willy”)
10. Farewell (Avantasia Cover feat. Melissa Bonny)
11. Goonies R Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover feat. Giacomo Voli)

LINEUP

TOMI FOOLER: VOCALS
ANDREA “K” CAPPELLARI: GUITARS
FABRIZIO TARICCO: GUITARS
GIACOMO STIACCINI: BASS
ENRICO SIDOTI: DRUMS