Skeleton Dystroys

Following a pair of ferocious flexi discs, Skeleton returns with its third self-titled release in as many years: a pummeling, four-song 7-inch that arc welds menacing hardcore punk with D-beat, sludge, and metal influences.

The Austin trio, whose medieval imagery signifies a blunt force approach to music, cut the EP with homegrown DIY visionary Orville Bateman Neeley III (OBN IIIs, Bad Sports) at the controls.

“About eight years ago, a friend took me to see A Giant Dog play at the old Emo’s,” says Skeleton singer/drummer Victor Ziolkowski (Plax, Nosferatu, Enemy One), who plays alongside his brother, guitarist David Ziolkowski (Army, Residual Kid), and bassist Alex Recide (Nosferatu, Recide). “I looked at Orville as being one of the only drummers I enjoyed watching in that whole realm of music. He hit hard and he was so solid. He recorded our first flexi, as well as an Impalers record I like, and I like the sound he got, so it made sense to go back.”

Ziolkowski confirms that after this, Skeleton will make an about-face and become a metal band.

“We want to stair-step into metal,” he says. “We’re already recording an LP that isn’t going to have a punk sound at all.”

Thus, enjoy their bulldozer punk in the short term. Today’s song premiere, “Dystroy,” blasts forth a breakneck beat, roaring vocals, and a prominent two-note, string-bending guitar riff that serves as the song’s hook. Skeleton’s first circular effort (the flexis are square) arrives via Super Secret Records June 30. You can pre-order it here and see Skeleton in action on that same date at Barracuda with Webbb, Enemy One, and Filthy.