Skin – Breaking The Silence
Skin was formed in the early '90s by Myke Gray (guitar) and Andy Robbins (bass), with vocalist Neville MacDonald, keyboardist Colin McLeod and drummer Dicki Fliszar completing the lineup. They were very active during that decade before they split in 1998. They reformed in 2009 for the Download Festival that year and followed that up with a full tour.
It appears that their eighth studio album, 'Breaking The Silence', is the band's swansong as they announced on their website that they would once again disband following their farewell tour in December 2010. This is such a shame as Skin are no-nonsense rockers who can belt out the meaty chords, produce catchy riff after catchy riff, deliver anthems and even turn their hand to rock ballads. They are undoubtedly a musically talented bunch who will surely be missed by those who have had the fortune to listen to them.
From the album opener, 'Good To Be Back', this CD just grabs you. Immediately they are into the classic rock anthem mode with a great driving rhythm and solid delivery. They aren't just one dimensional; the moody and deeper ballads of 'When I'm With You' 'Redemption' show that they can mix electric and acoustic guitars to generate a completely different feeling to their music.
Guitar solos abound as you would expect on a classic rock album; Myke Gray having some quite notable moments. Neville McDonald's voice fits the bill so comfortably his wide ranging, rock tones fitting perfectly over the rhythm of the band. The single, 'Stronger', is quite commercial and you just can't help yourself revisiting it time and time again. Catchy riffs are found everywhere and the band hold it together, never straying from the classic rock theme. 'The Book Of Your Life' is worth a mention, if only for the booming chorus. Other highlights include the heavier 'Can You Feel It', 'Trigger Inside' and 'Indestructible'; all full of high energy and tempo. The final track, 'Born To Rock'n'Roll' is a fitting end; hard, melodic and a memorable chorus.
Skin have stuck to their guns and produced a hard hitting swansong of down to earth classic rock.