Track. by Track: Skull Riot - Blood and Crows, Chasing Lights, Same Old
Skull Riot has three singles that are out right now and they’ve walked us through each song. Check it out below!
Blood and Crows:
This song is based on a nightmare that I had. The inspiration for the lyrics of this song also pulls some visual references to the poem THE RAVEN by Edgar Allan Poe. When I woke up from that nightmare all I could remember was the feeling of seeing this ghost-like lady. It was so familiar still so very strange. It was a very uneasy feeling.
I tried to mix that haunting feeling when you meet someone for the first time and the energy is so electrifying that it’s almost scary with the nightmare images I could remember like crows flying and spiders in an empty gothic mansion. Musically it was one of the first songs that came together when I was making demos for this new idea of a band where it would only be bass and drums. A Royal Blood but heavier, darker and faster.
Same Old:
When you try to move on from a toxic relationship, there are a lot of weird feelings and thoughts that you can experience in the process. Sometimes paranoia and guilt are some of the most powerful because they mess with your head. This song is about that. That mixed feeling of freedom and happiness for leaving the bullshit behind but at the same time the loneliness and longing for that person regardless of the fucked up routine you were involved in. At some point, every person goes through this kind of relationship, either with a friend, a lover, or even a family member. That “same old song” we already know. The push and pull, the back and forth, the “fuck you!” - “Please forgive me!” kinda thing.
Musically I wanted to make a song more “hard rock” oriented and expand on the riffs and sounds in this limited, almost minimalistic, setup of the band. The power and speed is essential to portray that craziness and paranoia in the song.
Chasing Lights:
A party, an overdose, a pact with the devil, fame, and a lot of rock and roll. That’s the premise of this story. I was pulling inspiration from the whole mysticism around famous rockstars and the legend of selling your soul to the devil in exchange for fame, success, and power. Movies like AMERICAN SATAN, THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, GHOST RIDER and CROSSROADS portray exactly the kind of deal the devil is known for and I wanted to make a song about it.
Musically there is a lot of “thrash” and “punk” inspiration. Fast riffs and powerful chorus.