Beloved Newport, UK quartet Skindred have returned to show off more of their eclectic musical expertise with their new album Smile (Earache Records). The album title was inspired by the reactions the band has received from large and small crowds alike throughout their career in live performances.
Featuring a mixed bag of styles from Nu-Metal to Pure Reggae, Smile isn’t the most cohesive listen altogether – but it certainly does include something for almost everyone. You won’t know when to expect heavy guitars, a cheery horn section, a turbulent combination of the two or something else entirely, but you could find yourself inadvertently bobbing your head at any point through the whirlwind sonic spectrum Skindred holds.
Even the songs without a hint of metal like ‘L.O.V.E. (Smile Please)’ and ‘Mama’ are entirely unique from each other. They are both strong reggae tracks with ska undertones, but the former is a lighthearted, bubbly tune advocating for peace and love, while the latter is more bittersweet with its chirping minor chords and a story about the struggles of a hardworking, underappreciated mother.
Then there are the more hard rock-leaning songs like ‘Gimme That Boom’, ‘This Appointed Love’, and ‘Unstoppable’ that combine gritty vocals with the reggae rhythmic flow amongst the thick distorted guitars.
The standout ‘Black Stars’ brings soulful group chants for a captivating tone change in the album’s second half. The sincerity put into the earworm melodies makes it hard to resist singing along, whether this is the type of genre you typically enjoy or not. They even somehow manage to fit one of the record’s heaviest breakdowns into what is otherwise an upbeat song.
With Smile as the newest addition to Skindred’s box of chocolates, the band proves that their charismatic young souls are still very much alive and ready to keep spreading their contagious positivity.
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY