The 90s-inspired alt-rock outfit Skin 17 started in Scotland and regenerated in Japan before finding a new base in London, where Andrew Cockburn found the home place of his sophomore album, Lighting your way by the bridges that you burn. The timely record takes inspiration from the likes of the Cure, NIN and Smashing Pumpkins, but leaves plenty of room for originality.
With snarled lyrics navigating lament and the even angstier guitars and percussion that could easily allow a pit to open it, the lead single, The Heart That Will Not Start allows pain to cohabit with anger in the fiery tumultuous release that carries hints of 70 punk alongside swathes of grungy nuance.
Instrumentally, you’ll find reminiscence to Disturbed, Driving Pool and Godsmack, while vocally, you can expect plenty of Social Distortion-style scathing yet vulnerable emotion.
Check out the latest album from Skin 17 by heading over to Bandcamp.
Review by Amelia Vandergast