Review SKUNK ANANSIE “The Painful Truth”

Formed in 1994, Skunk Anansie is one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 90s. Skin, Ave and Cass are the core of the band, and it is Skin, the singer, who is the face of the group, who had a big hit in 1997 with “Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)”. The song also helped the “Stoosh” album climb up the longplayer charts, followed by “Post Orgasmin Chill”, which was even more successful than the second release. The band disbanded in 2001.

In 2009, Skunk Anansie reunited and some live shows opened a new chapter for the Brits. With three more albums, the band was also quite productive before it took nine years to release their seventh longplayer.

“The Painful Truth” is the title of the latest addition to the discography and what Skunk Anansie deliver is excellent rock music with meaningful lyrics and emotional depth. All these points are even stronger during a live show, like the one in Hamburg a few weeks ago, but also the studio album shows the genius of the band.

Three songs have already been revealed and have provided a positive buzz during the recent live shows.

“An Artist is an Artist” is one of these songs and it is the opener of the new longplayer. The song touches on everything from being discriminated for being older to being recognized in a digital world. The song is a very powerful start to the album where a narrative verse interacts with a raging chorus. It is a very energetic start to the album and the song also works perfectly in a live setting.

“Cheers” and “Lost and Found” are the other two songs that have already been released as singles, with “Cheers” having already been presented to live audiences. “Cheers” is a hypnotic rock song with a great hookline. The pounding rocker unfolds its potential immediately, yet has enough detail to keep listeners engaged for a long time.

“Lost and Found” instead shows another side of Skunk Anansie. The song is calmer and again very rhythm-driven. It almost feels like listening to the heartbeat of life with all its ups and downs. It is a dark song that deals with the moments in life that can change things in a matter of seconds. One small mistake can pull the rug out from under you.

“Animal” comes later on the album and is one of the songs that has been played live. It is a catchy song with a great chorus, although I have to say that it took me a while to appreciate the full flavor of this thumbing rock song.

“This I Not Your Life” is also a darker song with a new wave vibe and a great chorus. “Shoulda Been You” has a reggae groove in the verse before building to an electrifying chorus with a lot of power. “Fell in Love” has a funky groove, followed by the dramatic “My Greatest Moment” and the touching “Meltdown. The latter is a melancholic masterpiece of the album and a great finale full of emotion and intensity.

“The Painful Truth” is the anticipated great album of Skunk Anansie. It is impressive how the band transports emotions with every song of the album being a moving moment. Sometimes unleashing the power of rock and sometimes relying on the intensity of softer tones, the band has added an album to their list of achievements that has the wow factor and provides a lasting excitement based on details and twists.