Band:	Skull & Crossbones
Album:	Sungazer
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	September 2023

01. Midnight Fyre
02. Sungazer
03. Manhunter
04. The Invisible Man
05. Tyrant's Rule
06. Nature's Legacy
07. Inner Self
08. Live Your Dreams
09. The Drowned
10. The Traveller

If you think the band name Skull & Crossbones indicates a pirate-themed heavy metal album, you'd be wrong. There's no such theme here, but what Sungazer does provide is simple, catchy, light-hearted heavy metal with a sprinkle of flower power.

Skull & Crossbones is a German heavy metal band that formed back in 2019. Excluding vocalist Tobias Hübner (of Heap Of Ruins and Forensick), the band consists of four members previously part of the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, including Volker Schmietow (guitars), Tobias Kipp (guitars), Marc Oppold (drums) and Jürgen "Wanschi" Wannenwetsch (bass). The band's full-length debut Sungazer contains ten traditional heavy metal tracks inspired by previous Stormwitch material, spiced up with a great modern-sounding production, plus a hint of Euro power metal thrown in. This turns out to be a winning formula for those who want simple, traditional, headbanging heavy metal fun, and nothing more.

Sungazer's traditional approach shouldn't really come as any surprise if you're at all familiar with the band Stormwitch, as this is basically the same band with a new lead singer. However, there is still a certain fresh feel to this album, as if the band hasn't just resurrected itself, but come back as a whole new establishment. The cover art may also appear misleading to some, as it seems to depict a fantasy sci-fi setting: something suitable for a progressive metal album maybe, but perhaps unusual for a heavy metal band going by the name of the notorious Jolly Roger symbol. But, as is often the case, you shouldn't let the cover art fool you!

Performance-wise, there really isn't much to fault here, although Hübner's vocal style may take some of those unfamiliar with his past work by surprise; it's clear that he's no operatic performer such as Dio or Dickinson, and his high-pitched squeals may not be of the same standard as the legendary Rob Halford, but you can't argue with the passion and energy he brings. "Midnight Fyre" begins almost immediately with that high-pitched Hübner scream, after which listeners are soon met by the instrumentation. The great traditionally melodic riffs and skilled lead guitars are evident from early in this opening track, and the galloping rhythm section, from the heavy bass lines to the rolling rhythmic drumming, sets a high standard for the duration of the track and what's to follow.

The next song, "Sungazer", follows in the same energetic manner, as the traditional riffs continue to impress, along with some striking leads. The bass sounds impressively heavy, and Hübner's eccentric vocals even begin to border on Euro power metal. The chorus may be catchy, but it does get rather repetitive towards the end, which is the track's only minor downfall in my opinion. One of the main standout songs for me is "Nature's Legacy"; the songwriting is beyond catchy, and the riffs are highly melodic and amongst the heaviest the album offers, almost reminding me of early Iced Earth. There's also another striking feature on the track, which is the slower midsection, which features an impressive solo towards the end. The ballad-like "Live Your Dreams" is also a standout moment on the album, as it contains a nice soft acoustic melody, with what sounds like a piano playing in the background. The lyrics are both emotive and inspiring, which brings a smile to my face, even if they're slightly on the cheesy side of things, and obviously, the track has to finish with an almighty impressive, epic solo; for me, this is the best solo on the album.

If you're expecting originality from this album then you'll be disappointed, and there are some riffs you're more than likely to have heard before; for instance, the riff at the beginning of "Inner Self" is very similar (if not the same) as that of Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam". This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing; I've heard similar spins on this riff many times before, and here it works fine for what the track is to be built upon.

To sum it up, Sungazer isn't an album for those serious about originality, it isn't superfast or heavy, and it's far from anything brutal or technical, but what it does have is lots of energy, and a touch of nostalgia, and most of all, it's for metalheads who just want to have some headbanging fun the old-school way!