SKAM are a trio from Leicester who make a big noise. Their new album From The Depths (Self-Released/Earache Digital Distribution) is their fourth offering and follows the time travelling concept of 2017’s The Amazing Memoirs of Geoffrey Goddard with straight-up, high octane Hard Rock.

As the pounding hard rock of “Rising Fever” shows this is not groundbreaking, but it is well produced, and has some sharply honed songwriting and tight musicianship. They know what they are doing and do it well, mixing muscular rock with crowd-friendly hooks to good effect – as is the case in the propulsive “Another Way Out.” The catchy “Selfish Friend” is similar, mixing chunky guitars and a radio-friendly chorus and sounding like a hybrid of Royal Blood and the Foo Fighters.

You have heard its ilk before, but this is a finely tuned display of rock with a hefty, metallic stomp and a commercial sheen. “The Grind” bemoans the 9 til 5 life to a visceral, heavy groove and a tasty solo courtesy of frontman and guitarist Steve Hill. “Travesty” barrels along with a chug-along verse rhythm, a slinky riff, and a big, centrepiece chorus – complete with some dextrous fretwork.

The moody, battle-ready “Fate of the Souls” adds a bit of colour to proceedings – it gallops along with purpose and is the heaviest thing here. As does the over eight-and-a-half minute closing titled track “From The Depths,” which starts off calmly then explodes into a marauding Rock N Roll epic that ends the record with a flourish.

From The Depths is a good collection of lovingly crafted Hard Rock with a visceral stomp and some taut melodies.

Buy the album here:
https://skamuk.com/shop/

7 / 10
THOMAS THROWER
Follow his work here: