Skull Music is a genre of music created by the bands Clockcleaner and Homostupids. The actual term "Skull Music" first appeared in the 2007 Clockcleaner album titled Babylon Rules, released by Load Records. The album credits read: "Remember... The Freedom of choice means the right to Skull Music."
In a press release for Babylon Rules, Load Records exclaimed:
There is a strange culture of bands existing right now worshiping the downer-laced hard rock sounds of BAUHAUS, FANG and CHRISTIAN DEATH. CLOCKCLEANER stand defiantly and call their new music: SKULL MUSIC. Other bands in the SKULL MUSIC family include Cleveland's HOMOSTUPIDS. Stay tuned for further SKULL MUSIC transmissions on LOAD."
In a review for Babylon Rules, Drowned in Sound wrote:
"Musically, as in humour, Babylon Rules carries on where prime 1980s Steve Albini and the pig fuck sub-genre left off, skirting misogyny allegations with a wry grin and clunking through bass-led monster mashes that could put hip joints out of place. Only where you were reasonably sure most of what went before was severely tongue in cheek, with Clockcleaner’s no-wave nihilism you’re never totally convinced. 'Skull Music' is what they've christened it."
FNU Ronnies from Philadelphia is another band of self-described Skull musicians. Richie Records, run by Richie Charles of Clockcleaner, released the bands' Meat 7" in early 2008.
The July 18th, 2008 radio broadcast of DNA in the DNA, a radio program on WMUC in College Park Maryland, described Skull Music as: "Killed By Death punk meets early 80s hardcore with a touch of goth music such as Christian Death."
Sludge Metal has also been used when describing Skull Music.
The genre was described by allmusic as "...a style that doesn't quite seem appropriate on Load Records' noise rock roster, and because their sound doesn't fit neatly into any category, the group took it upon themselves to create their own genre that they lovingly call 'Skull Music.'"
Related Artists *Clockcleaner *FNU Ronnies *Homostupids
