It’s been quite the slog for SKAM. They’ve toiled away in the middle of England since 2011’s It’s Come To This introduced a highly competent power trio, albeit one with little to distinguish them from the herd. Three years later Peacemaker – particularly the standout The Wire – was a wall of sound. Just when they seemed set fair for meat-’n’-potatoes success, in 2017 they jettisoned the template and chanced their arm with The Amazing Memoirs Of Geoffrey Goddard, a concept album about a time-travelling Spitfire pilot. It rocked, but differently.
Seven years on (why it’s been seven years is far from clear), what now? They’ve doubled down, built on the best of their past, added a contemporary twist and gone for rock broke. And they’ve succeeded spectacularly. From the sizzling first moments of the opening Rising Fever in which guitarist/singer Steve Hill unleashes a dizzyingly ferocious guitar solo, it’s pretty clear what lies ahead and SKAM don’t disappoint.
