Posted by The Welsh rasta metal outfit Skindred know their way round a hook, and they have delivered some more with You Got This. This is their first album since 2021’s Smile and their first as a three piece, with founding member and bassist Dan Pugsley leaving at the end of 2025.
They might be a member down but You Got This is the same catchy fusion of metal, rock, hip hop and reggae – with the hooks and the swagger very much front and centre. The autobiographical ‘Can I Get A’ is one of the many, many earworms with chunky guitars, a soaring chorus and an upbeat attitude. There is plenty of stomping metal here, the propulsive ‘This Is The Sound’ and the defiant, stand up and fight nu metal of ‘Born Fe Dis’ are the choicest cuts.
It is an unsubtle and in your face album, with an eclectic sound – going from the sunny side up, full throttled title track to the light and poppy, tongue in cheek aside ‘Broke (I cannot help but think of Kill Bill whenever I hear the former). The earnest, if generic reggae metal ballad ‘Glass’ to the boisterous hip hop metal of ‘Big Em Up’, all without sounding forced. It does veer towards generic alt metal/nu metal towards the record’s end though, with the big energy and big melodies papering over these cracks. But its brief 33 minute run time and its infectious spirit really gives You Got This a party atmosphere and means it does not outstay its welcome.
Ending on the summery slice of reggae fuelled pop ‘Give Thanks’, You Got This is an imperfect slice of exuberant fun that goes down very easy.
7/10
Lofty Music and Film 