Demo Title: Shedding Skin
Band Members: Guitars - Jeremy Burgess, Guitars - Jason Beveridge, Vocals - Darran Pretty, Bass - Kym Kranixfeld, Drums - Peter Stewart
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Rating: 3 Skulls
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Band Name: Skintilla
Demo Title: Shedding Skin Band Members: Guitars - Jeremy Burgess, Guitars - Jason Beveridge, Vocals - Darran Pretty, Bass - Kym Kranixfeld, Drums - Peter Stewart Location: Adelaide, South Australia Rating: 3 Skulls
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Slither's Review:
The extensive press package that accompanied this independent release indicates that Skintilla are having a fair amount of success in their local scene. Talk of shows with Alchemist got my attention after so many listens to that band's fine release Austral Alien. Their promoter describes them as a groove-heavy unification of new and old metal styles, and there is certainly truth to that. But I think a more accurate description of what is going on here would be the sound of Machine Head trying to release a power metal album. While you try to imagine that sound, I will offer up some more details.This new release comes in the wake of a year long hiatus and a few member changes. I'm not sure if the time off did them any good, but the new singer they showed up with this time is a pleasing combination of Ripper Owens and Rob Flynn. The Flynn comparison is the more useful of the two for describing the sound of Skintilla. It's got that ranty, bounce n' thrash thing going on, but with a more Priest-like delivery to the vocals.
It feels like these guys could hold their own on the thrash or power metal side of things if they can stay together long enough to improve their songwriting as a group. What knocks a few skulls off this album is the linear nature of the songs themselves. There is a very strong riff-tape vibe coming from Shedding Skin. The songs are very formulaic and there isn't much variation, the guitarists do change things up every fourth riff here and there, but it's usually just a pick rake or pitch harmonic. Skintilla certainly don't deserve a nu metal tag, but ending their already bouncy riff patterns with that kind of thing does draw some nasty comparisons.
To my ears, Shedding Skin sounds like this band has about one step to climb before they find themselves signed and out touring with larger acts, though a few things need to change. The guitar tone (envision a muddier Pantera) does not mesh well with the vocals; I'd guess that someone got wrapped up in sounding heavy instead of worrying about what would sound best with their vocalist. Remember kids, you can't turn a knob on your singer and make him sound different. Some dynamics could really fill in the gaps in theses songs, variation in tempo and meter would go a long way, and making a little effort in the transitions could alleviate that riff tape sound. Overall, a promising effort.
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