Skinners – The Debut Full Length And Bathing The Loud Way.

Skinners – Bath, England, United Kingdom.

Bath time DIY fast beat.

Now, a lot of people like Bath, but Skinners (formed in 2012) clearly feel the need to disturb the ambience somewhat. And disturb they have been doing, via sonic assaults influenced by the likes of Dead Kennedys, Aus Rotten, Shitlickers, Doom, Infest, Punch and Void.

With two EPs and a split already to their name, they have now released an 18 track debut album of fast, crushingly distorted Hardcore Punk, which focuses on the genres’ heavier end. Elements of D-beat, Powerviolence, old-school Hardcore and Crust Punk, which combined, not only serrate the ear drums, but are incendiary live and make for a fast pace-setter when on foot.

I won’t rant about each track because I don’t want to bombard you with prose, rather music instead – So expect some embedded noise:

An Intro, 16 tracks and a Dub Outro, Skinners treads ground nearer to the heavier diversifications of Hardcore Punk as much as it does its base.

They deliver the speed that Bad Brains and Gorilla Biscuits had; the dirge of Discharge; the discordant assault that contemporary stalwarts, Trash Talk, repeatedly hit your ear drums with; Skinners embodies the lot.

I’ve listened to this on larger speakers, little speakers and headphones, and I have to say the best has to be headphones – all whilst walking along at that frantic pace on a mad dash because you are running late for work. True Story.

‘Pork’ is a :54 second blast of hard-edged 80’s Hardcore that, although fast, brutal and low, is held together ever so tightly. The band often purvey a messier sound on some tracks, and that is no issue, but tracks like this really are much more refined.

‘Skunk Makes You Dumb’ is another “tight-as-shit” belter that boasts something this album could have done with more of; guitar solos. I know it isn’t necessarily what you’d expect from a Hardcore band in this vein, but guitarist Ben Thomas leaves shredded ruin in his wake – just unfortunately doesn’t go back and give your eardrums an extra kickin’.

I’ve got to hand it to Harry Davies on Bass and Rick Jones on Drums, as Punk relys hugely on the skill-at-arms of the drummer and bassist, and in bands as fast as Skinners, the tempo is relentless.

‘Police Story II’ boasts another solo, some cleaner vocals and slightly slower tempos – albeit not for long – that add some variety before we are straight back to it. ‘Shut Up The Punks’ is played at breakneck velocity, with some tasty refrains and maniacal screams that lead you to a cheeky George Orwell reference in ‘Thought Crime’, which in itself is a personal stand-out track.

On to ‘Rude Peni’, which started to feel very much like album filler, but is redeemed by an enjoyable and equally intense solo, whilst ‘Torture’, (like most of the this album’s tracks), shows the remarkable speed in which Shea Stewart can spit and snarl vocals.

‘Monsanto’ is loaded with violently fast beats and strings, as well as a tasty low bass refrain amongst the sheer level of aggression. ‘We’re Alright’ has the riffage and the brutality which doesn’t let up for a second, whilst ‘MRM’ is messy as you can handle.

‘Man/Sin’ literally sounds like vocalist Shea screaming at existence. Bluntly, this song type can often sound over the top and boring. I’m not a massive fan of the wailing incomprehensible noises down the mic, but everything about this song simply works.

The Dub track to finish. ‘SK in DUB’ sounds like something the The Clash would have done in their mid-to-late career, and also ties off the album unexpectedly, but well enough.

The recording and mixing could have been slightly better, but that shit takes time, and it all makes sense when you see the band live. Plus, we do have a soft spot for an honest rough cut.

Skinners, along with the rest of the band’s material, is free for download from their bandcamp page. Hard copies are on the way so keep an eye peeled if you like it crushingly abrasive… in a good way.

The bandcamp page can be found here, while their Facebook page can be found here.

#StayFresh