Review by Teresa Hopkins

Artist:  SKINTRADE
Album:  “Scarred For Life”
Label: AOR HEAVEN
Release Date: July 24, 2015

Tracklist:
01.  Scarred For Life
02.  Goodbye
03.  Wide Awake
04.  Lay With Me
05.  Find A Way
06.  LoveHate
07.  Leave A Scar
08.  Broken
09.  Storm Will Come
10.  15 Minutes Gone

Formed in 1992, the initial 5-piece band SKINTRADE, from Stockholm, Sweden—Matti Alfonzetti (vocals), George Bravo (guitar, backing vocals), Stefan Bergström (guitar, backing vocals),  Håkan Calmroth (bass) and Håkan Persson (drums, backing vocals)– released their self-titled debut the following year (featuring songs such as ‘Soul Sister’ and ‘Sick As A Dog’) to a very positive response.  1995’s “Roach Powder” was a grungier, heavier follow-up album from which videos for ‘Flies’ and ‘Snap Goes Your Mind’ were regularly featured near the end of MTV’s “Headbangers’ Ball” era.  Although the band parted ways near the end of the year, fans never forgot them, nor did they relent in their encouragement for the guys to make music again.

So, sixteen years later in May of 2011, the guys met up and played some songs together.  They decided to record a few songs in the months following, three of which were featured on their 2012 best-of compilation entitled “Past and Present”.  That fueled a new energy within the band, and they decided to continue from there (although without original guitarist George Bravo), writing and recording enough songs over the next year and a half to release 2014’s aptly titled high-octane comeback album, “Refueled”.   With songs like ‘Monster’, ‘Wild One’, and ‘Hardcore MF Heartattack’, SKINTRADE‘s mojo was still alive and well.

Continuing with this new era, SKINTRADE‘s latest release, “Scarred For Life”, kicks off a one-two punch in overdrive with the title track and ‘Goodbye’, and they keep the momentum going for the duration of the album.   A good surprise among the album’s ten tracks was their decision to rework ‘Wide Awake’, the Max Martin-penned hit made famous first by Katy Perry.  I’m always intrigued to hear what creative ideas a band has in amping up a song and putting their own personal stamp on it.  I like the lyrics of the song, and nothing against Ms. Perry, but I think I dig this version more—it has a darker, dreamier, and heavier feel and keeps with the band’s sound, fitting right in among the rest of the tracks very nicely.

Long-time fans may recall that Matti put out three solo albums during SKINTRADE‘s dormant period.   The venture into slightly less aggressive-sounding rock than the band’s early material and the passage of time may have quelled (or maybe more accurately, focused) a bit of that anger in his voice, but the maturity from life experiences about which he sings—messy breakups, broken dreams, and moving on through grief among them—has lent a strength and conviction to his delivery that can easily be felt by the listener.  And he sounds better than ever these days—without the need of enhancement.  “Find A Way”, a moving and poignant ode to his father, is one of ten proof-positives on this album of why I consider Matti Alfonzetti prime among his peers.

What impresses me so much about this album is the absence of anything fancy, gimmicky, or over the top.  None of that is needed here!  Matti and Stefan Bergström create a wall-of-guitars sound, and with Håkan Calmroth’s steady driving grooves and the snap and sparkle that show off Håkan Persson’s percussive talents, the band’s palpable energy channels pure rock and roll.  Bergström’s lead breaks are more extensions of the songs themselves than departures from them, giving great continuity and flow.  The band is so tight, ever complementing and supporting Matti and each other, like parts of a well-oiled, hopped-up engine with open headers and some serious kick-ass horsepower.  This no-frills, no filler album is meant to be played loud and often—and I have been very happy to oblige.  What a soundtrack it makes for a run on the open road!  And it gets better with every listen.

Full of tasty riffs, hot energy, and irresistible hooks that make every song a gem, I think SKINTRADE has found their niche with “Scarred For Life”.

(rating 9/10)

Band Members:
Matti Alfonzetti – Vocals, Guitar
Stefan Bergström – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Håkan Calmroth – Bass
Håkan Persson – Drums, Backing Vocals

http://skintradesweden.com/
http://www.facebook.com/skintradesweden
https://itunes.apple.com/se/album/scarred-for-life/id1021309208?l=en