SKIN - Skin +7 [remastered] (2011)

*

SKIN, one of the finest UK acts, finally gets their long time out of print self titled 1994 debut re-issued, remastered at 24-bit from the original source tapes plus 7 bonus tracks.
Some kind of a super-group, the band was founded in 1993 by ex-Jagged Edge members Myke Gray and Andy Robbins (also formerly of Tokyo Blade and the awesome Shogun) along with AORsters Kooga vocalist Neville MacDonald and drummer Dicki Fliszar, formerly from Bruce Dickinson’s touring band.

The group remained inactive from 1998, until it was announced that Skin would be playing at the Download Festival 2009. The band realised that the spark that kept them together those years ago was still there, and decided to record an acoustic album.
Following this, Skin went back into the studio to record what was described as their final album, the very good 'Breaking The Silence' already reviewed here on this blog.
But the fans and the new generation of rockers were eager for the first album to be reissued.

Skin's self-titled debut album is big on hard hitting guitar riffs, killer hooks and meticulous production courtesy of master Keith Olsen (Whitesnake, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne).
At the year of its original release, "Skin" was like an oasis in the middle of the (grungy) desert. The band's terrific late 80's sound compared to Tyketto and british Thunder is a blast, and this CD was undoubtedly one of the best that year.
Vocalist Nev MacDonald shone at the mid eighties with the excellent band Kooga, here he sings in a more power hard-bluesy style with an awesome range in the finest Coverdale/ Rodgers mould. Myke Gray’s impeccable guitar work is the driven force of the band, all sustained by a very very tight rhythm section.

I can't find a weak song on SKIN’s debut, all are solid rockers such as the top 20 hit single "Money", the scorching Mr. Big-like "Look But Don't Touch" or the super melodic "Tower of Strength".
You can't go wrong with a song entitled "Raised On Radio", the acoustic "Colourblind" sounds as the best Tyketto and "Wings Of An Angel" is a beautifully crafted ballad.
The bunch of bonus tracks are really good as well, including the songs from their rare self-released EP (previous to this CD); "Money", the rockin' cover of Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" and their fantastic take on The Clash classic "Should I Stay Or Should I Go".
"Good Good Lovin" has an americanized sound (reminds me Trixter), "This Planet's On Fire" rocks good and "Take Me Down To The River" has an early Whitesnake vibe.


SKIN's debut is one of the finest Hard Rock albums released by a British band during the nineties, full of fire and melody.
This is a not-to-be-missed reissue, with a great remastering job and the plus of 7 really good and hard to find tracks.
Highly Recommended.


01 - Money
02 - Shine Your Light
03 - House Of Love
04 - Colourblind
05 - Which Are The Tears
06 - Look But Don't Touch
07 - Nightsong
08 - Tower Of Strength
09 - Revolution
10 - Raised On Radio
11 - Wings Of An Angel
12 - Monkey (bonus track)
13 - Should I Stay Or Should I Go (bonus track)
14 - Pump It Up (bonus track)
15 - Good Good Lovin' (bonus track)
16 - This Planet's On Fire (bonus track)
17 - Take It Easy (bonus track)
18 - Take Me Down To The River (bonus track)


Neville MacDonald: lead vocals, guitar
Myke Gray: guitars
Andy Robbins: bass
Dicki Fliszar: drums, percussion
Robert Mason (Lynch Mob, Warrant): guest backing vocals











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www.nehrecords.com/SHOP/SkinSkin.htm
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