ALBUM REVIEW: You Got This – Skindred
Ragga metal fans rejoice, Newport icons; SKINDRED are back with their latest offering, You Got This. It’s been a good couple of years since their last album but in this time we’ve seen the boisterous trio nearly top the UK album charts and headline Wembley Arena, it’s still very clear they’re well within the musical zeitgeist with their infectious brand of metal that seems to bring a smile to all. This time is no different, You Got This is another solid effort that challenges itself to keep audiences on the edge without each song sounding the same. Whilst it isn’t groundbreaking, it’s still enjoyable music that will suit summer just fine when that finally arrives.
Opening up the album is the albums namesake, You Got This. Instantly you’re jumping along to the delightful bounce this song brings with its sultry, mosh pit inducing riff that hooks you instantly. Benji Webbe’s voice growls along and entwines with the music perfectly as it creates a wonderful earworm of a track as he expertly goes between an almost rap style to showing off his ever impressive vocals as the song builds up and builds up to an excellent breakdown that will feel so cathartic live. Up next is Can I Get A, swapping the heavy riffs to a fun little melody and yet another earworm that will have you singing along in no time. This song is simple, fun and has a great summer day feel to it that fits right into a pre-drinks type song as you’re sitting getting tipsy with your mates. Born Fe Dis brings back the heaviness with another driving riff that has you doing the stankface to it as it culminates in another great breakdown, you’ll be almost smelling the sweaty mosh pits this song will conjure by the time it is over.
This Is The Sound brings in the beats with a number of bongo drums at the starts before descending into a whirlwind of sound as it continues the excellent tempo this album is upholding from its start. The chorus sticks with you for a long while too as you find yourself shouting along to “This is the sound that makes you go crazy!” and knowing the sway SKINDRED have garnered over the years, you won’t be surprised if you do. The heaviness subsides for a well and makes way for a reggae type song in the guise of Broke. A welcome respite in the madness that has ensued so far but this is yet another song that fits perfectly for a summer’s day, you can almost feel the heat of the sun as you listen to it. The reggae style bleeds over into Glass which sees the band segueing back into the heavy style around the halfway mark, you’d never imagine the two genres going hand in hand, but SKINDRED have and always will make it fit perfectly.
Big Em Up and Do It Like This go hand in hand together as they employ a hip hop style that suits Benji Webbe’s vocals down to a T. Alongside the riffs on display, it’s a delightful display of masters of their craft showing they are able to make these two styles blend without it sounding like a gimmick like other bands have done and annoyingly made careers from. My People begins the album’s descent towards its end as it opens up with some thunderous drums that instantly have you nodding your head before a classic Mikey Demus riff joins in and promotes the nodding to head banging. It’s a hectic song that is a stand out on the album and will be sure to cause chaos at live shows. Seeing the album out in style is the well natured and chilled Give Thanks, which sums up the SKINDRED ethos perfectly of just wanting to have a good time and focusing on yourself rather than the shit things happening worldwide right now. The vibe is nice and makes you think of those you have around you. If you’re lucky enough to have a copy of the album that features a bonus track, you’ll be treated to Dred Or Alive which is fun in the moment, but does feel like the album has gone on a little too long and would have benefitted from being placed earlier in the album.
Overall, You Got This is a fun, infectious album that helps blow the cobwebs away that may be rattling around in your head with its typical SKINDRED sound that blends their older sound with a few curveballs here and there that keep the album fresh, never dull and never outstays its welcome. It’s not the most perfect album you’ll hear all year round, but if you’re looking to scratch that itch of nothing too serious, then You Got This is the album for you.
Rating: 7/10
You Got This is out now via Earache Records.
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