{"id":2689,"date":"2011-11-02T10:30:45","date_gmt":"2011-11-01T23:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2011-11-02T10:37:37","modified_gmt":"2011-11-01T23:37:37","slug":"skindred-union-black","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/2011\/11\/skindred-union-black\/","title":{"rendered":"Skindred – Union Black"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In 25 words or less:\u00a0 \u201cOnly your own ears can determine whether they like a concoction of reggae, nu-metal, dub step, metal, hard rock, beats and rhymes\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Since 1998, the Welsh based Skindred have been bringing it with their genre defining, well actually, let\u2019s say genre creating, blend of reggae and metal that they themselves refer to as \u201cragga metal\u201d.\u00a0 The bands fourth album Union Black<\/em> was recently released on September 23rd here in Australia through 3Wise Records and how do I even begin to describe this?\u00a0 All elements combined, it\u2019s like nothing I have ever heard before\u2026other than Skindred of course, and honestly, Skindred are a band that you really need to listen to yourself to make up your own mind.\u00a0 I could take the ultimate cop-out and state \u201cI think this CD is awesome and you really need to hear it for yourself\u2026\u201d but that would be doing it a total injustice! \u00a0I mean only your own ears can determine whether they like a concoction of reggae, nu-metal, dub step, metal, hard rock, beats and rhymes\u2026and that could be just in one song!<\/p>\n

Being the first album the band have recorded in the UK, as opposed to the USA and with a producer that hasn\u2019t tried to tame the \u201cbeast\u201d that is Skindred and front man Benji Webbe, Union Black<\/em> sees the band well and truly unleashed. \u00a0Opening with the intro title track, which is a Skindred\u2019ised version of God Save The Queen, <\/em>there\u2019s no doubt a significance of this track, given lyrically, the album explores the ethnicity and togetherness of the UK.\u00a0 The album then launches straight into first single Warning<\/em> featuring Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach, it cuts through with razor sharp metallic riffs and is as I can attest, this chorus incites madness with the “Newport helicopter” in a live arena.<\/p>\n

For me, if I had to pick a song that best illustrates what Skindred is all about as I tried to describe above, then it\u2019s Cut Dem, <\/em>check the video below and make up your own mind\u2026\u00a0 Vocally, Benji Webbe\u2019s performance for me is one of the most captivating aspects of the album, seemingly traversing from the growls and heaviness on a track like Doom Riff <\/em>all the way through to the other extreme with a full on reggae assault on Guntalk.\u00a0 <\/em>At the heart of most songs, there are some killer choruses to be found and none better than Own You <\/em>and Make Your Mark <\/em>which to throw another spanner in the works, at times sounds like a bit of Spandau Ballet in the chorus.\u00a0 Aurally, there\u2019s certainly a lot to digest over the journey of Union Black, <\/em>but every song offers little twists and turns right to the very end with album closer\u00a0Game Over.<\/em><\/p>\n

Having seen Skindred perform here in Australia on their recent tour, I am slightly tainted by the reality that you just can\u2019t capture the untamed frenetic live energy of a band such as Skindred on a shiny plastic disc.\u00a0 Union Black <\/em>however sees the band go closer to capturing this than they have ever before and for the musically adventurous amongst you who have never heard Skindred before, watch the video below, buy the album and thank me later\u2026<\/p>\n

Essential information<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Check it out if you like:<\/strong> To be musically adventurous!<\/p>\n

Release date:<\/strong> Out now<\/p>\n

Label:<\/strong> 3Wise Records (Australia) www.3wiserecords.com<\/p>\n

Produced by:<\/strong> James Loughery<\/p>\n

Website: <\/strong>www.skindred.net<\/p>\n

Track listing:
\n<\/strong>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Intro (Union Black)
\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Warning
\n3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cut Dem
\n4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Doom Rif
\n5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Living A Lie
\n6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gun Talk
\n7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Own Ya
\n8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make Your Mark
\n9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get It Now
\n10 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bad Man Ah Bad Man
\n11 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Death To All Spies
\n12 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Game Over<\/p>\n

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