In a scene full of attitude, Skindred are a band built on good vibes. Even when they get serious, such as songs like "Kill The Power," there's an undeniable groove to the sound. After seeing their performance in The K! Pit for Kerrang!, I'm convinced that one is physically unable to go to a Skindred show and not have a good time, and that may or may not have something to do with contact highs.
On their eighth studio album to date, You Got This, the band know what they're about. If you're like me and are relatively new to their music (I know, I'm late to the party), this record sums everything up. Whether they go fully into nu metal territory or lean harder into ska and reggae, they do so with their full chest, and it's to the album's benefit.
By far the biggest earworm on the record is the title track. Since I first heard "You Got This," I've had the chorus stuck in my head. It's motivating while not being annoying, but going from that to the slow jam that is "Can I Get A" is a bit of a drastic tonal shift. Therein is perhaps the biggest weakness of the album as a whole, as none of the songs are long enough to really establish a mood or a vibe, and then it's on to the next one.
The one-two punch of "Big 'Em Up" and "Do It Like This" is easily the biggest nu metal moment to be found, though the ass-shaker that is "This Is The Sound" comes very close. There's no shortage of riffs and sounds that will make you want to dance in your seat or as you walk, and that may be the album's biggest selling point.
It's just a damn fun record. Skindred have honed in their sound, their image, and their modus operandi by now, and if you're not hip to it, remedy that. You got this.
You Got This is available now via Earache Records.
