Artist: Skinner
Title: Sleepwalkers
Genre: Thrash Metal
Release Date: 6th May 2014
Label: Dead Inside Records
Review Flash
Formed in late 2010 as a band consisting of three ex-members of the dissolved power/ thrash band IMAGIKA, this band from San Jose, California finally gave birth to their debut album called ‘Sleepwalkers’. SKINNER`s mixture of power and thrash metal comes with the power of three (!!!) guitarists and is able to build enormous pressure (not that my ears are able to hear a third guitar, but hey I never heard the third guitar listening to IRON MAIDEN…) Norman Skinner’s voice is really quite pleasant to listen too, that vocal chords remind me of Joey Belladonna a lot. The guitar work is a good mixture between modern US power metal (alike ICED EARTH without the characteristic guitar play from Schaffer) and IRON MAIDEN influenced progressive melodies. The drumming gives direction to the instrumental framework but is undemonstratively at the same time.
Conclusion: I hate to use corny phrases but this record has just killers, no fillers. In no way is this the best record I ever listened to or one of the best of this or last year, but I like the band and I will support them (if there wasn`t ICED EARTH as my favourite band, this band would have good chances to become one of my favourites) if you`re into bands like ICED EARTH, GAMMRAY or PRIMAL FEAR you should check out SKINNER…
Rating: 8 / 10
