Skinher is the heavy metal
project and brainchild of Kyle Skinher (aka Haris from prog metal pioneers Hail
Spirit Noir). Skinher, the band, made their debut with their Heartstruck LP last week via boutique
label Aural Music and what a debut it was! If vintage ‘80s heavy metal/hair
metal is your thing, then you’re in for a good time.
Skinher features Cons Marg on
vocals, Kyle Skinher on bass, synths, and samples, Roger Rovento, J. Demian,
and Antonis Sevdalis on lead guitars, Theoharis on rhythm guitars, and Hakon
Freyr Gustafsson on drums. The gorgeous cover artwork is a good indication as
to what awaits inside: a horror-themed collection of metal songs. The album
opens with “You Are Next!” and makes a strong statement with its catchy chorus,
infectious guitar licks and riffs. The horror theme is alive and well with “The
Maniac is Back”, a track reminiscent of the classic Alice Cooper song “The Man
Behind the Mask” which he did for Friday
the 13th Part VI. The beautiful synth-driven rock tune “Interstellar
Love Hysteria” is an ‘80s-tinged number drenched in nostalgia. I love the word
play of “Night Cull” instead of “night call”; this track would fit like a glove
on Dario Argento’s Tenebrae
soundtrack of 1982. A highlight of the record. “He Sees You” is a spooky quasi-instrumental,
save for the creepy “Santa Claus Is coming to Town” spoken words. The
compelling rhythms of “Self-Eating Creatures” make it a fun sing-along song
keeping with the spirit of the LP’s horror motif—one of my absolute faves. “Dance
with the Dead” with its opening homage to Psycho
features heavy guitars and cool synths to deliver a memorable melody. The
record comes to an end with a bona fide rock ballad, “Josephine”, and it’s
right at home within the confines of the LP’s theme.
Get your air guitars out, Skinher
has arrived! Heartstruck is vintage hair
metal at its best. This album is flawless at what it aims to do: a metal album
with pop sensibilities and prog tendencies. It’s a solid collection of eight
tracks that go down easy like a cold beer on a hot summer night. Skinher is a
direct descendant of bands like Europe, Firehouse, Cinderella, and even Bon Jovi.
This is an album I’ll be playing often and it will undeniably make its way to
my Top Albums of the Year come the end of 2023.
Skinher’s Bandcamp page: https://skinher.bandcamp.com/album/heartstruck
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