Despite earning themselves a strong reputation as one of the best live bands in the country, the success that has followed Newport’s Skindred in their home country over the past seven years has never quite equalled that offered by their transatlantic fans. Unlike many of Skindred’s British contemporaries, American audiences seem to have responded much better to the quartet’s music than they have among the home crowds. Each of the band’s first three albums, along with a number of the accompanying singles, received respectable chart placings in the US and Skindred followed their successes with relentless touring on that side of the pond. Following the deafening buzz created by so-called nu-metallers like Limp Bizkit and System Of A Down, it seemed that American rock fans were only too keen to take to Skindred’s blend of metal, reggae and dance music and the South Wales four-piece were more than happy to provide.
Now, two years since their last effort ‘Shark Bites and Dog Fights’, Skindred are back with fourth offering ‘Union Black’. Judging by the title and the fact that it is their first album to be recorded here in the UK, it almost seems as though Skindred are finally out to make that mark on their home turf. As the album’s intro kicks in, with a brief rendition of the National Anthem, this impression becomes increasingly evident.
Following the opener, listeners are treated to a mouth-wateringly heavy riff on the track ‘Warning’ – an irresistible assault on the ears, featuring the vocal talents of Jacoby Shaddix from Californian rockers Papa Roach. This hard rock introduction extends into ‘Cut Dem’, an expertly-blended combination of heavy guitar music and a more dance-inspired approach. Songs like this and ‘Living a Lie’ expand on the drum’n’bass and dubstep sounds that Skindred have been heard to use on their earlier releases.
However, it’s definitely the metal influences that stand out here, with tracks like ‘Own Ya’ and ‘Make Your Mark’ displaying bone-shuddering basslines that mix in perfectly with the reggae infusions heard throughout. As always, it is these reggae-tinged sounds that give Skindred the edge over other UK metal acts. Frontman Benji Webbe continues to liven the mood with his dancehall-style vocals, while simultaneously proving himself as a genuine heavy metal singer.
On ‘Union Black’, Skindred have returned with a rock album that demands to be heard amid a scene that repeatedly calls for new and diverse music. The way that the Newport-based quartet have succeeded in blending honest metal with a perfect quantity of urban styles is almost too good to be missed. With a new and improved sound on their fourth album, it’s finally time for Skindred to prove themselves to the UK crowds as more than just a tremendously awesome live act.
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Following the opener, listeners are treated to a mouth-wateringly heavy riff on the track ‘Warning’ – an irresistible assault on the ears, featuring the vocal talents of Jacoby Shaddix from Californian rockers Papa Roach. This hard rock introduction extends into ‘Cut Dem’, an expertly-blended combination of heavy guitar music and a more dance-inspired approach. Songs like this and ‘Living a Lie’ expand on the drum’n’bass and dubstep sounds that Skindred have been heard to use on their earlier releases. 
