The Skinner Brothers - 'Iconic' EP Review

 

The Skinner Brothers - 'Iconic' EP Review

Tomorrow (Friday 7th May 2021) sees The Skinner Brothers drop their new EP 'Iconic'! 

As their Spotify bio says, "The Skinner Brothers don't fuck about" and this 4-track EP backs up this claim!

The EP explodes into action with two new tracks and two previously released singles - but with a twist.

First up, the title track 'Iconic' starts with Zac Skinner's vocals and a guitar - then the beat comes in hard and we're rockin'! This is an amazing start, a track full of swag and attitude and will get the crowd chanting along "Iconic" in the build up to the final chorus. 'Iconic' is for winning the game with success against all odds "Get on it, step on it, subsonic, iconic."

The second, and other brand new track is 'M.O.R.E', heavier than 'Iconic', it starts small and grows into an anthem oozing with self confidence. 'M.O.R.E' mentions getting up more times than you get knocked down, wanting more from life, more love, more great times and asks "Give me one more reason I should give a fuck". With a big guitar solo and massive catchy chorus this is one for singing along to and will be amazing live.

The third track is their absolute banger 'Low', originally released last December, this is a remixed version and has been made slicker and even bigger! The intro hooks you in to an energetic track driven by drums and bass, and the powerful guitar riff that hits before the last chorus holds nothing back! 'Low' is about some highs - but more importantly, crashing down to some spectacular lows; "Friday, kicking 'til the Sunday, playing a bit on a Monday, baby that's the blues day." I also have to mention the "ooh"s in this track because they're addictive!

I'm not gonna lie, I never would have imagined The Skinner Brothers and an acoustic track - but I've been blown away by track four - the acoustic version of 'Away Days'. The original version has over 221k streams on Spotify since its release in June last year and was a song celebrating the feelings and camaraderie of the football supporters - the pints, the build up, the match! What would have been an anthem to jump, sing along and punch the air to now has a whole different vibe - one to sway and hold up your phone torch to (lighter depending on your generation!). It seems more relevant, after the year we've had, that it has taken on a more mellow and reflective view of poignant memories of past 'Away Days'; "Hey hey, I live for them away days, feeling half cut on Sunday". As restrictions ease and we get back to some sense of normality, I can really see this hitting an emotional chord with the football supporters. 

'Iconic' is an EP with heaps of old-school mojo and vibe. The artwork is a black and white picture of Zac in his boxing gloves, showing the band's fighting spirit. It's a thoughtful image - not necessarily one of pride and victory but more of resilience and determination. The word Iconic is defined as successful, influential, significant and idolised for its talent, which completely sums up this album! 

You can see The Skinner Brothers headline at The 100 Club on August 13th and supporting The Streets at The Crystal Palace Bowl again on two dates in August.