REVIEW BY MATT BESTALL
THE SKINNER BROTHERS SOUL BOY II OUT NOW!!!
Bang ‘Skinner Brothers’ into Google and Wikipedia will tell you that ‘The Skinner Brothers are a gang of ruthless killers and thieves who move from place to place to hunt and kill animals and people alike.’ Now killing and stealing aside I feel the summary gives you all the right flavours. And the *new album* puts a flat cap on this and hammers it home.
First things first your gonna need some volume. Yes to appreciate the big juicy bass undertones and crashing snare pops, but also to appreciate the bucket loads of attitude packaged within each track. And true to style the album is rammed choruses that just have to be shouted back into your stereo speaker… and no one wants to hear that shit.
The opening track is the epic ‘Mountain High’ and Zachary (the bands lead) wastes no time interrupting the tub thumbing drum intro with his familiar grit and spit vocals. If ever an opener was made to ‘some up’ an album up then ‘Mountain High’ would tick this box. OK lads you got my attention. I’ll crack a Stella or 2 to get me on the same wave length!’
The Skinners Brothers sound is expertly varied and crafted, and you cant help but get slapped with little busts of familiarity. Senses are awaken by new tunes that you will feel like you’ve moshed to before. Think of it like this, if the restaurant menu was filled with all the big indie rock acts. Well the Skinners Brothers latest offering would be the mix grill. Yummy.
The album fits perfectly together and chugs nicely along like a coal train, fat melodies by a bunch of mates having fun signing about the normal stuff, drinking, fighting, football and i even think Fifa also got a mention. It seems to have a certain nostalgic feeling about it, a refreshing reminder of proper full strength indie rock and roll, not this watered down stuff that we have been fed for so much time now.
Zachary’s vocals continue to impress, ‘M.O.R.E’ is a showcase of this. filthy but spotlessly smooth vocals that makes you think that he must be drinking from the same water fountain as Kelly Jones.
The lead delivers cleaver and provocative lyrics that completed the skinner package. His gravely voice is welcomingly different and has a slight resemblance of punk of old.
As the album powers along the drum mantra of ‘Low’ carries a beautifully balanced menace about it. Moody aggressive verses contrasted by a cheery chorus you cant help but to support with your own backing vocals. like this song the rest of the album almost makes you feel like clenching a fist, gritting your teeth and choosing a side…Us against them. A brotherhood.
Like thier gigs the Brothers Skinner have a mastered the ‘one of the lads’ feeling. Even if your new to the band a single blasting of ‘Way To Far’ will have you recruited, the new album is packed full of festival tunes that need to been shouted back at the stage from a muddy field. You’ll want have beer with the lads, join a mosher at the live gigs, tell your mates, hell, you might even give them a like on Facebook.
Timed nicely towards the end of the album the track ‘Stupid Much’ is a cracking little ballad, and an opportunity to catch your breath after the previous 40 minutes of throwing punches in the mirror. The lads let you have five minutes of sing along self reflection before kicking you up the arse again with the wicked opening bass riff too ‘Way Too Far’.
My personal favourite is the epic ‘Iconic’. the ‘doth the cap’ lyrics are an absolute treat that just sum this whole album up.
Now I don’t consider myself to be much of a cool person so take from this what you will, but if you fished for the definition of cool in the Collins dictionary don’t be surprised if it plays the Skinner bros ‘Way To Far’.
Now Grab a Stella and get your vibe on it man.
SOUL BOY II TRACK LISTING
1/ MOUNTAIN HIGH
2/ PUT ME DOWN AS A MAYBE
3/ M.O.R.E
4/ LOW
5/ AWAY DAYS ACCOUSTIC
6/ 1000 REASON WHY
7/ TOLD YOU SO
8/ CULTURE NON STOP
9/ GIVE IT ALL TO ME
10/ ICONIC
11/ STUPID MUCH?
12/ WAY TO FAR
13/ STUPID MUCH
FOLLOW THE SKINNER BROTHERS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
