SKINFLINT — Dipoko (review)

SKINFLINT — Dipoko album cover Album · 2013 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Heart of Africa...

Hailing from Botswana, Skinflint hail from a metal scene which is totally unknown to me, as I really don't know anything about African metal. "Dipoko" was released in 2012 and constitutes my first acquaintance with this African trio, which consists of Juice Sbrana on guitars and vocals, Sandra Sbrana on drums, and "Raskebo" Nkoloso on bass.

Musically, "Dipoko" treats the listener to traditional heavy metal with touches of old school power metal and hard rock. It seems that NWoBHM is a major source of inspiration for Skinflint, which is reflected in plenty of twin guitar harmonies and song structures characterized by a number of changes, breakdowns and build ups - as in 'The Mist of Madness' or 'Olitau'. The riffage is generally straightforward and solid, while the twin guitar sections are more weaving and complex. Iron Maiden in particular seems to have influenced Skinflint, although the trio definitely take their music in their own direction, infusing it with lyrical themes evolving around African culture and myth, which actually lends itself beautifully to heavy metal music.

The production is perhaps a bit crude, leaning towards lo-fi, and Juice's vocals are perhaps a bit too aggressive for the music which is otherwise very melodic. That being said, I found myself enjoying this album much more than I had expected. I like the melodic guitars and the raw drumming, but the outstanding aspect of the album is Raskebo's bass, which is at the forefront and becomes a driving element of the overall sound of the album. The bass has a nice raw and sharp sound thanks to Raskebo's usage of a pick.

Because of the production, I don't think this is an album that will appeal to everyone. I, for one, ended up liking the raw sound, as it gives the album an old school sound. Fans of traditional metal who do not mind a raw production should definitely check this album out.
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