ALBUM REVIEW: Skindred – You Got This

‘…another collection of ragga-metal bangers that are going to ignite stages the world over, although the flaws cannot be ignored…’

28 years deep into their career, Newport’s premier metal outfit Skindred show little signs of slowing down just yet; if anything, every release sees the legendary ragga-metal band reach new highs of popularity. 2023’s ‘Smile’ took the band to number two on the UK album charts, and saw them awarded at both the Heavy Music Awards and MOBO Awards for their escapades.

The departure of founding bassist Dan Pugsley last year was certainly an unexpected development in the band’s storied history, but seems to have done little to hamper the momentum of the outfit. Moving forwards as a three-piece, the band announced their ninth record, ‘You Got This’, and have found their way to the number one spot on the UK album charts as a result. Is the acclaim deserved, however?

‘You Got This’ is the same record that Skindred have been producing for over a decade now, for better and for worse. Certainly, Skindred have perfected their own style, with their rambunctious and optimistic fusion of nu-metal and reggae being entirely impossible to mistake as anything but their own. The riffs are meaty, the hooks are stupidly infectious, the lyricism is witty, and the charisma is completely undeniable; fans of Skindred are going to find plenty to feast on here.

But with every release since 2015’s ‘Volume’, it seems that Skindred are wholly content with not evolving beyond their own boundaries; they may have dabbled with classic hard rock on 2018’s ‘Big Tings’, and their reggae sounds have become more pronounced across their past two records, but every release feels mostly interchangeable with the last. Again, everything is performed incredibly well, and that cannot be taken away from the band, but you cannot help but wonder if Skindred are going to pen themselves in by their own expectations for the rest of their lifespan.

If there is one positive to be gleaned from the repetition, it is the fact that the musical performances across ‘You Got This’ are individually fantastic, with vocalist Benji Webbe sounding more impressive than ever before. The weighty ballad that is ‘Glass’ sees the legendary frontman deliver a genuinely powerful vocal performance that is rich and impactful in its strength. ‘Broke’ is undoubtedly the band’s most confident take on reggae yet, Webbe offering a witty insight into the affordability crisis of the UK against a buoyant acoustic-focused backdrop.

‘Big Em Up’ is pure classic Skindred goodness, with devilishly groovy rhythms, brilliantly cheesy lyricism that emphasises the importance of community, and a killer chorus that repeatedly clobbers the listener with a steel pipe. Closing cut ‘Give Thanks’ continues those optimistic vibes, and rounds out the album well both sonically and thematically. A bright, summery reggae anthem, it serves as the perfect reminder that whilst life might be unpredictable, there is nothing that you cannot face, especially with your community at your back.

‘You Got This’ is the epitome of a ‘good’ record, and nothing more. Skindred have put out another collection of ragga-metal bangers that are going to ignite stages the world over, although the flaws cannot be ignored. If Skindred are going to spend the rest of their career putting out records like this, then their reputation is certain to remain intact, but you cannot help but wonder if there’s anything else that the Dred have left to deliver. Throw it on, play it loud, but don’t look too hard at what is below the surface.

RATING: 72/100

For Fans Of: Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Ocean Grove, Papa Roach, Hacktivist

Physical copies of the record are available to purchase here.

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