The versatile and energetic Matti Alfonzetti returns to the scene of one of his most loved bands – Sweden’s Skintrade. Back together during 2011, the band released their third album Refueled last year.
If that was a good solid album, then this is a great album! Once again, Matti crafts some fine aggressive hard rock tunes and turns then melodic with his powerful vocals.
With one foot in the past and one in the present, Skintrade’s new album is a mesh of modern rock and slick production, and classic Scandi driving hard rock.
Production is quite superb here – the mixing of styles is done seamlessly – with a cracking rhythm section pushing Matti to his vocal best.
It wasn’t an instant like album. Appreciation came over time and now I’m hooked.
Whether it is driving hard rock (opener Scarred For Life, the furious LoveHate and Storm Will Come) or a more groove orientated sound (Goodbye, Lay With Me and Leave A Scar) or a switch to modern rock with the cover of Katy Perry’s Wide Awake and the marvelous contemporary ballad Broken, there’s variety for everyone here.
And a more classic melodic rock sound seeps through on the ballad Find A Way.
Ten tracks, 40 minutes – the perfect album length. No filler here, just thumping hard rock with a strong contemporary feel and some fantastic vocals from the always reliable Alfonzetti.
