 UK festival favourites Skindred have signed a new global four album deal with Earache Records, with each band member signing the deal in different endangered music venues across the country. Earache Records have long been one of the most exciting, forward-thinking and important rock labels in the world, having pioneered many extreme metal bands and in recent years enjoying Top 40 success with bands such as Blackberry Smoke, Buckcherry, Massive Wagons, Rival Sons and The Temperance Movement. Once upon a time they also released the first two Dub Wars albums, the first band fronted by Skindred singer Benji Webbe. Earache Records MD Digby Pearson says: “We could not be more thrilled to be signing Skindred. They are such a truly unique and much-loved band. We have all been huge fans of them since Day 1 and have followed Benji’s career since the very beginning so to have Skindred sign to Earache is something that we are all extremely excited by. We are delighted to welcome Benji back to the Earache family along with his bandmates Arya, Mikey and Dan and look forward to working with them for many albums to come.” Skindred have been hailed on numerous occasions as one of the UK’s best live acts so it was only fitting that the band sign their new record deal with the UK’s most innovative rock and metal label Earache Records at some of the country’s most historic grass roots venues which face being closed permanently due to Covid-19 crisis. It’s the perfect opportunity for the band to bring further attention to these treasured venues’ plight and to show their continued support for the live industry in these challenging times. Earache’s label head Louis Lloyd spent the day travelling across the country to get the signatures from each member, setting off at 8am and covering 450 miles over 13 hours. The venues that took part in this historic signing are Le Pub in Newport (Benji), The Louisiana in Bristol (Dan), The Black Heart in London (Arya) and Brighton’s Green Door Store (Mikey), all of which are on the Music Venue Trust’s red, endangered list. Skindred drummer Arya Goggin says: “We are so excited to announce that we are signing a worldwide deal with Earache Records. I have been a fan of the label since I started listening to heavy music. Their independent attitude and willingness to push the boundaries are something we can identify with in Skindred. It was great to ink the deal at The Black Heart in Camden and shine a light on all the struggling independent music venues too. The Music Venue Trust is something that we feel passionately about and we want these venues to thrive and be part of the future of British Music as well as being part of its history.” Beverley Whitrick, the Strategic Director of Music Venue Trust says: “Music Venue Trust is incredibly grateful to our artist patrons who talk publicly about why grass roots music venues are important to them and their career development. When a band like Skindred do or say something to illustrate how much they value these venues, this resonates with their legion of fans and helps highlight the strong relationship between an artist and the venues and their teams. When we are still asking for donations to the #SaveOurVenues campaign to help secure the survival of the venues most at risk of imminent closure, this is more welcome than ever. To donate to one of these venues, or the overarching campaign see https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-venues-red-list .” Matt Doom, Venue Manager of The Black Heart says: “In the midst of troubling times for all, and as we come into the final throes of crowdfunding to save our much-loved independent venue due to a lack of government support, we at The Black Heart are proud to be one of the hosts for this important event. Skindred are one of the true stalwarts and champions of the UK music scene and we are stoked to witness them sign to the iconic heavy realm of Earache Records. Young bands need places to play so that they can go on to achieve the heights of what Skindred have accomplished, so it feels extremely fitting to have had them use our (currently dormant) stage for such an event, continuing them on their path from the hallowed spot of Camden Town as so many hundreds of bands do on their own journeys each year.” WEBSITE
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 Skindred have revealed a brand new lyric video for ‘It’s A Crime’, a rare cut from the Japanese version of Roots Rock Riot. Thirteen years after its release, Skindred are re-releasing the record, making the track available outside of Japan for the first time. The album will be available on April 23rd and can be pre-ordered here. Drummer Arya Goggin recalls: “‘It’s a Crime’ was written in 2006 in our basement studio below St Joseph’s Boxing club in Newport. It’s where all the writing for Roots Rock Riot took place. The only reason it didn’t make the album was because of how the album track listing flowed. We were so happy with how the album progressed from the opening of chaos of 'Roots Rock Riot' to the epic ending of 'Choices And Decisions' we didn’t want to crowbar another song in needlessly. It was a hard decision to leave it out but we are so happy it’s being included in the re-release. It was always a band and producer favourite.” Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, vocalist Benji Webbe explains: “I live in a neighbourhood (Newport, Wales) where back in the day, a lot of people were working hard and getting ripped off in life and then there are others who are just hustling and selling this and selling that. It’s just a crime that hard-working people don’t get what the thieves / criminals get.” Crafted in a boxing club, recorded in America and laying the groundwork for everything that followed it, Roots Rock Riot is an important piece of Skindred’s history – a piece that this re-release celebrates. The first record of their discography to feature what would become the permanent line-up of Benji, Arya, bassist Daniel Pugsley and guitarist Mikey Demus, it started its life as that difficult second album. What it became completely transcends that, bookending a difficult period of the band’s existence and boldly kicking down the door to the future of their illustrious career. Benji remembers delivering the vocals with the same passion he employs in front of a festival crowd, and recalls: “I’m not one of those people who cheers when they’ve finished a record. But I’m always thankful to get to make my art, blending contemporary British music and Jamaican music, with my friends. On Roots Rock Riot I think we did that excellently.” Mikey (guitars) meanwhile sees this re-release as an opportunity to examine how he and his band have come on in the years since: “I’m really proud of the record. I had a hell of a lot of fun making it and it features some really important Skindred tracks.” Producer Matt Squire (Panic At The Disco / Neck Deep) brought the whole album to life and realises its importance in cementing Skindred as one of the most important bands in the British heavy rock scene, he explains: “Longevity is all about being real. Times were changing when the album was made, and if the band hadn’t been real in what they did they might have been passed off as a metal band with an innovative singer. Roots Rock Riot presented Skindred as a band with amazing songs. Those songs are made up of a crazy amalgamation of sounds, while remaining absolutely undeniable.” Available on vinyl for the first time as well as CD, the re-release of Roots Rock Riot features rare cuts and previously unheard music. As well as the complete tracklist of the original, the vinyl version of the record comes with an additional 7” containing two exclusive tracks: the aforementioned ‘It’s A Crime’ and ‘Struggle’, which was never released. The CD release also contains both those tracks and an acoustic version of ‘Destroy The Dance Floor’. If that’s not enough, the re-release is also accompanied by some exclusive merchandise pre-order bundles. Available in the bundles are three 12” vinyl colour variants (Transparent Orange, Transparent Green and a special 3-colour Red, Yellow & Green), a t-shirt and a turntable slip-mat, both of which feature a classic design from the original Roots Rock Riot release. Pre-orders are available here. The re-release of Roots Rock Riot will arrive ahead of their full UK Showtime Tour in September, joined by very special guests Royal Republic. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 SHOWTIME TOUR DATES
FOLLOW SKINDRED WEBSITE Welsh ragga metallers Skindred announce the re-release of their breakthrough album 'Roots Rock Riot'2/11/2020  Thirteen years after its release, Skindred are excited to announce the re-release of their second album Roots Rock Riot. The album will be available on February 26th 2020, and can be pre-ordered now here. Written in the basement of a Newport boxing club, recorded in America and laying the groundwork for everything that followed it, Roots Rock Riot is an important piece of Skindred’s history – a piece that this re-release celebrates. The first record of their discography to feature what would become the permanent line-up of vocalist Benji Webbe, bassist Daniel Pugsley, guitarist Mikey Demus and drummer Arya Goggin, it started its life as that difficult second album. What it became completely transcends that, bookending a difficult period of the band’s existence and boldly kicking down the door to the future of their illustrious career. Benji remembers delivering the vocals with the same passion he employs in front of a festival crowd, and recalls:- “I’m not one of those people who cheers when they’ve finished a record. But I’m always thankful to get to make my art, blending contemporary British music and Jamaican music, with my friends. On Roots Rock Riot I think we did that excellently.” Mikey meanwhile sees this re-release as an opportunity to examine how he and his band have come on in the years since:- “I’m really proud of the record. I had a hell of a lot of fun making it and it features some really important Skindred tracks.” Producer Matt Squire (Panic At The Disco / Neck Deep) brought the whole album to life and realises its importance in cementing Skindred as one of the most important bands in the British heavy rock scene. “Longevity is all about being real. Times were changing when the album was made, and if the band hadn’t been real in what they did they might have been passed off as a metal band with an innovative singer. Roots Rock Riot presented Skindred as a band with amazing songs. Those songs are made up of a crazy amalgamation of sounds, while remaining absolutely undeniable.”  Available on vinyl for the first time as well as CD, the re-release of Roots Rock Riot features rare cuts and previously unheard music. As well as the complete tracklist of the original, the vinyl version of the record comes with an additional 7” containing two exclusive tracks: ‘It’s A Crime’ (previously only featured on the Japanese release) and ‘Struggle’ (never released). The CD release also contains both those tracks and an acoustic version of ‘Destroy The Dance Floor’. If that’s not enough, the re-release is also accompanied by some exclusive merchandise pre-order bundles. Available in the bundles are three 12” vinyl colour variants (Transparent Orange, Transparent Green and a special 3-colour Red, Yellow & Green), a t-shirt and a turntable slipmat, both of which feature a classic design from the original Roots Rock Riot release. Pre-orders are available here. The re-release of Roots Rock Riot follows the recent announcement of their full UK Showtime Tour for September 2021, joined by very special guests Royal Republic. SEPTEMBER 2021 SHOWTIME TOUR DATES Thu 23rd – Cambridge, Junction Fri 24th – Oxford, Academy Sat 25th – Northampton, Roadmenders Thu 30th – Leeds, Academy Fri 1st – Birmingham, Institute Sat 2nd – London, Roundhouse Thu 7th – Cardiff, Tramshed Fri 8th – Bristol, Academy Sat 9th – Nottingham, Rock City Sun 10th – Glasgow, SWG3 Fri 15th – Southampton, Guildhall Fri 22nd – Sheffield, Corporation Sat 23rd – Newcastle, Uni Students’ Union Fri 29th – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion Sat 30th – Manchester, Academy Sun 31st – Norwich, UEA FOLLOW SKINDRED |
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Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
February 2021
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