SKIN - review added 27th October 2010
Album Review: Breaking The Silence (2010)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and screaming through your hand
Well loved UK band Skin - Nev Macdonald on vocals, Myke Gray (recently interviewed on Rock Realms here) on guitar, Andy Robbins on bass, and Dicki Fliszar on drums - was founded in the early 1990s. Unusually for a genuine rock band they tasted serious chart success at the start of their career, no doubt helped by the backing of Sanctuary Management and a record deal with Parlophone.
Their fourth studio album "Experience Electric" marked the end of their initial existence back in 1998. It was only in 2009 the guys got back together, and the aptly titled "Breaking The Silence" is the result. It seems the band, once tours are out the way, will be breaking up again on a permanent basis, so this may well prove to be the last we hear from the four guys. Shame, because there's some fantastic music here.
Somehow the band passed be by first time round - I suspect I was too busy listening to heavier stuff back then - so I can only look at "Breaking The Silence" and mark it on it's own merits. The sound is rocking, often with a hard edge, and there is a charismatic Southern U.S. feel to a lot of the release. This is a band full of guys who can perform. Be it the aggressive rhythms, hook-laden guitar playing or superb singing; the band doesn't have a weak facet.
The songs all show great individual character, and the album as a whole is a pleasure to listen to. Okay, there is always room for improvement, but this has got to be one of the finest UK hard rock albums of the year.
'Good To Be Back' is a lively effort that'll blatantly be opening the band's concerts on their farewell tour. 'Don't Call It Love' is a big-chorused rocker with an epic vibe. 'Stronger' isn't quite so vast, but it's still better than the best songs on many other albums. 'Can You Feel It' is an interesting effort, although it spends too long being introspective. When it finally let's rip it is worth the wait though. 'The Book Of Your Life' has an anthemic sing along feel to it: it's definitely going to be a big moment on the live stage. 'When I'm With You' is a lovely ballad with chart potential.
With 'Trigger Inside', the band suddenly turn into a cross between the Foo Fighters and Avenged Sevenfold. That's clearly no bad thing as the song sounds great. 'Indestructible' is a heavier track too and, although it doesn't have a chorus of the magnitude of others on the album, it's still a great effort. 'Redemption' is a slower, if still loud track with poignant lyrics and a real charm. 'Bad Reputation' is back to the normal Skin-2010 sound, and fits in well with the first few tracks. Final entry 'Born To Rock & Roll' is a speedy contagious song that leaves you wanting more.
In summation...
Sadly the musical world is a different place to when these guys started out. If it wasn't, I suspect this album and any singles from it would easily match the success the guys had first time round. "Breaking The Silence" is that good.
Check out... All of it.
Track List:
01. Good To Be Back
02. Don't Call It Love
03. Stronger
04. Can You Feel It
05. The Book Of Your Life
06. When I'm With You
07. Trigger Inside
08. Indestructible
09. Redemption
10. Bad Reputation
11. Born To Rock & Roll
Artist's website(s): Skin | MySpace | Facebook
