Boston must be damn proud to have a local band the caliber of SKINGAME. This band kicks some major ass. Blending explosive guitars, heavy grooves, and a moderate amount of electronics, Skingame pack some catchy rock into their eight song debut cd. (The cd also includes four more tracks which are radio friendly versions of some of the songs on the cd.)

The band's a five piece which includes a keyboardist, and they use just enough electronics/sampling/keyboards to make their brand of aggressive rock unique. I'm really impressed by some of the songs on this album. While the cd does take a few listens to get into it, once you do, you're hooked. This is some catchy stuff, and I would dare anyone to find catchier songs than 'Infinity' or 'Certainly Use You' (my two album favorites.)

Skingame bounces from melodic verses to tasty choruses without letting up in intensity for all eight songs. The music isn't really aggressive enough to be labeled metal, and the songs are fairly upbeat. This is some great grooving music though, that you'll want to bop your head to once the songs get stuck in your head. No particular band pops into my head to compare these boys to, but if you enjoy some catchy rock and a band with a unique sound, definitely check Skingame out. Even if you're not an techno or industrial fan, I would suggest checking this band out. The electronics run more towards ambient backgrounds (especially on 'Slow Death' or 'Trip the Kiss') than dancey keyboards.

Boston has produced a major caliber band here, and I hope good things come to these boys. I'd like to see more of a mix between electronics and rock like Skingame (or The Hunger) in the mainstream.

-Todd Craven