SKINDRED: Smile (FUSION METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Generally speaking, when we evoke the Welsh, we tend to think of rugby. Yet their Skindred counterparts are the world's true standard-bearers of reggae-rock, or even ragga-metal. This is no understatement, as the band emerged 20 years ago at the height of the neo-metal boom.

Back then, to be heard, you had to sound like Korn, Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park. Mixing raggamuffin with metal was daring, but Skindred had an intuition. Since then, it's become such a trademark that it would be perilous for any other band to venture into this segment without being accused of plagiarism.

Where Skindred is clever is in its use of ragga. The band is, after all, a metal band first and foremost, and ragga is sprinkled sparingly throughout each track. The track 'If I could' is undoubtedly the best illustration of this, with a catchy chorus, a judiciously placed ragga phrasing and breaks that build up the pressure to better explode and make the audience head-bang. Of course, the emblematic Benji Webbe is back at the microphone, without whom Skindred's success would doubtless not have been the same, for it is he who brings the energy and originality that are the very essence of the band.

"Smile" may not be a revolution, but it does have the merit of perpetuating the heritage of a genre that is, in the final analysis, rather under-represented. As Skindred's music is primarily designed to be played live, many listeners may be content to listen to one or two tracks, while die-hard fans will throw themselves into this uncommon object with relish. - Official website

SKINDRED

SMILE

EARACHE

FUSION METAL