Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
The Welsh wizards and the best festival band in the world return with album number nine….nine, can you believe that.
The follow up to 2023’s “Smile” is going to be hard to beat what with its incredible position of number two in the UK charts but You Got This has every reason to outshine that with its blistering tracks.
The album opens up with the title track and the riffs come at you from the off as Benji drops his best Reggae mutherfucker vibes and the track kills from the off. The trio ignore that numerical fact and produce a huge sound and the stomp is one hell of a way to kickstart an album.
Latest single “Can I Get A” is the reason that this band has the crowds swarming prior to them hitting the stage at any festival. The song oozes the bands feel good vibes as it crosses the pop boundry but with a sledgehammer. This is what feel good means people.
We go full Nu Metal on “Born Fe dis”, the guitar is like an adrenaline shot straight to the heart and mixed with those reggae vocals you have musical magic. I have never came across anyone who hates this band and a track like this proves that if you love music and it is done right everyone will love you.
Yeah, why not whip out the bongos, sucker everyone in and then blow their heads off like a shotgun to the head from one inch away. “This is the Sound” is sheer musical brutality, 12 rounds with a peak Tyson but in your ears. I cannot even describe this track other than saying it should be serving life for manslaughter.
After having PTSD from the previous track we head to the beach, sip on some rum and chill the fuck out on “Broke”. Are Skindred the most diverse band on the go…quite possibly and this laid back, stoned out break continues on “Glass” and shit people, this is Marley until it breaks down and becomes a stunning Rock song. If there is one thing that Skindred can be consistent about it is being inconsistent, you have no idea what is coming next.
Ok, after that last statement and we are going 90s dance now. I can never make it through a Skindred album without having a huge smile on my face…ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? “Big Em Up” is everything that just should not work but I tell you right here that this Newport trio are magicians.
Now it is time for some Linkin Park sound desk shizzle on “Do It Like This” and right now if this band told me to do the worm I am on the floor convulsing like I am having a fit…where the hell are my bell bottoms and Limp Bizkit moves? I was Rollin right through to the end of this track. This is pure genius.
Since this band appeals to so many different people and so many genres I have no idea who this band’s “My People” are but having seen the band whip up so many crowds and if you are reading this I would say you are their people and this song encompasses each and every one of us.
As we ease out the album it is back to the beach on “Give Thanks”. Grab the beers, find your skins and settle down in front of the firepit. The adrenaline is getting back to normal levels, my heart rate is settling down and the boys leave us on a peaceful, happy note unless of course you ordered the USB version of the album and you get the bonus track “Dred or Alive” and I can assure you this is no throw away song the boys can just stick on there to sell some more physical copies. This is a heavy assed groove with some sick bass lines even if it does do a Diamond Dave breakdown but this one is worth it for the guitar work alone.
You Got This is astounding and most definitely deserves to surpass “Smile”. This band have been in the shadows for far too long. They are not just a festival band, they are a legit musical deity so get on your knees and pray at the feet of the Welsh Gods.
ALBUM RELEASED ON APRIL 17TH 2026
PRE-ORDER HERE
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