SKIN - Breaking The Silence (2010)

available exclusively from the band's site


SKIN were formed in the early '90s by ex JAGGED EDGE members Myke Gray and Andy Robbins (also formerly of TOKYO BLADE & SHOGUN) along with former KOOGA vocalist Neville MacDonald and drummer Dicki Fliszar (from Bruce Dickinson's touring band).
Through Maiden vocalist Dickinson, the band came to the attention of noted American producer Keith Olsen who offered to produce their debut at his 'Goodnight LA' Studio.

Prior to the release of the album, the band embarked upon a 14 date UK tour supporting LITTLE ANGELS.
Another support tour, this time with THUNDER helped swell their growing fan base.
SKIN's self titled debut break into the top 10 and peaking at # 9.
Unfortunately though, the band couldn't capitalize on the success of the album, and after a few more erratic releases, they finally called it a day in 1998.

11 years on, and after an offer to reunite for the '2009 Download Festival' culminated in a great performance, a full-scale successful tour followed, which led to the band being invited back to perform at this years' Download too, and the recording of a farewell album: "Breaking The Silence".

This cd ROCKS.
Neville McDonald’s voice has lost none of it's passion and power, to think this man actually gave up singing!
Myke's riffs and solos are as entertaining as ever, and the rhythm section of bassist Andy Robbins and drummer Dicki Fliszar locks in as if it's never been away.
The rip-roaring opener "Good To Be Back" is a classic rock anthem fueled with big drums and a foot-stomping rhythm.
It's followed by "Don'’t Call It Love" which has a huge groove and catchy chorus, very commercial, with a speeded up ending.
First single "Stronger" is an absolute corker, a singalong anthem that has the 'feel-good factor' through it. This song must be on the radio!
"The Book Of Your Life" has a shuffling beat and another huge chorus and great lyrics about making the most of your life experiences; 'We crash and we burn but sometimes we learn'.

The likes of "Can You Feel It", "Indestructible" and the hard-riffing "Trigger Inside" (which has echoes of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cold Sweat’), are heavier songs that lean towards the later SKIN output in style, but are still hugely enjoyable.
There are also two ballads, the understated "When I'm With You" blends the electric and acoustic guitars to perfection, while the fantastic "Redemption" is a re-working of a song that first appeared on the ‘Up Close And Personal’ acoustic CD, and is one of the finest ballads you'll hear this year, complete with beautiful backing vocals from Jackie Gilbert, and piano work from longstanding keyboardist Colin McLeod.
The album closes with the up-tempo stormer "Born To Rock’n’Roll", featuring another immense chorus, which speeds up to a frantic climax, and does exactly what it says on the tin.

"Breaking The Silence" is a fine way to draw the curtain on one of the best bands the U.K. has ever produced, wich is criminally unknown outside Britain.
The songs rock bigtime, the musicianship is top notch, and there's plenty of guitar solos and flights of artistry.
I absolutely loved the debut album (still do to this day) and it fully deserved to be a success with no less than four Top 40 hits contained within it, and I'm pleased to say that "Breaking The Silence" leans back toward the mighty debut for it's overall atmosphere – even the same logo that adorned the cover is back –

Eleven tracks of no-frills, no-bullshit classic rock’n’roll, catchy, melodic, and very well produced.
For anyone who remembers SKIN from first time, this album will please you to the extreme, for those who are encountering them for the first time, all will be surprised by the quality of this group.
Unfortunately life gets in the way, and as everybody in the band has full-time jobs and families, this December's tour will be the last, but as a thank-you to the fans for remaining loyal, the band have recorded this final album.
And if this is indeed SKIN’s swansong, it couldn't have been any better.

Available exclusively from the band's site.
RECOMMENDED


01 - Good To Be Back
02 - Don't Call It Love
03 - Stronger
04 - Can You Feel It
05 - The Book Of Your Life
06 - When I'm With You
07 - Trigger Inside
08 - Indestructable
09 - Redemption
10 - Bad Reutation
11 - Born To Rock 'N' Roll


Neville McDonald : Vocals
Myke Gray : Guitars
Andy Robbins : Bass
Dicki Fliszar : Drums


www.skinfreak.co.uk
IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!