Skin The Pig

Article XIX

Written by: PP on 28/11/2011 03:14:17

Further proof that choice of name is vital to the success of a band lies right here with Manchester, UK-based Skin The Pig. Virtually nothing about the name appeals to a listener from a non-black/death metal background, which isn't doing the band any favors considering they deal in an unusually progressive brand of metalcore on their debut album "Article XIX". Alas, the release lay on my review pile for about five months with minimal interest, down-prioritized by bands both known and unknown for that very reason. Better late than never, right?

The two bands that instantly come to mind throughout the album are All That Remains and Lamb Of God. Sometimes one to the greater extent than the other, but there are plenty of passages where Skin The Pig fit right in between the groove-laden macho metal of the latter and the virtuous metalcore of the former. They do so with a penchant for progression, however, as either style is surrounded in ever-progressing soundscapes that reach toward epic far more often than they resort to simplified intensity or catchy riffing. They sport two vocalists: one clean singer, whose falsetto is impressive at times, and another screamer/growler who varies his expression between resembling a less intimidating Randy Blythe and a more typical, indistinguishable metalcore scream that you'll encounter with most bands in the genre. "Factory, Factory", for instance, reaches definitely into the realm of Lamb Of God with that low-end groove that's almost certainly inspired by Pantera.

Later on, the band transform into a more of a progressive metalcore unit with slight references to the lenghtier songs from the Bullet For My Valentine debut album, where high end cleans are the predominant choice of vocals alongside some more introspective instrumentation, but we're never too far away from returning to stock metalcore riffing. The amount of stylistic variation is refreshing, but ultimately also the biggest stumbling stone of the band. In wanting to explore all styles equally - preferably within the same song even - some tracks drag on and on and on without really going anywhere, a classic mistake from many a progressive metal band I've come across. There's also a distinct lack of stand out songs that would make "Article XIX" a good album instead of just a decent one. That being said, it is their debut album, and by their next record they'll surely have focused their songwriting a little.

6

Download: I Rise You Fall, Room 121,
For the fans of: Lamb Of God & Pantera meets All That Remains
Listen: Myspace

Release date 04.03.2011
Self-Released

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