By Monk
Despite having been one of the stalwarts of the Northern Ireland metal scene for close on 20 years, Skypilot are a relatively reticent band, as evinced by the fact that this is only their third full-length album. But, with reticence comes consideration, and once again the trio from the otherwise relatively peaceful County Antrim village of Doagh, have delivered a considered and, yes, reticent album.
I say this because a Skypilot song, as with each album as a whole, is as much about what is left out as what is included. As on a personal level, frontman Dave is a man of relatively few, but cogently cohesive, words: his vocals are pointed and on point, his delivery sharp and sparse, and all the more effective for being so.
The same is true of the musical performances. The riffs are precise and concentrated, the bass and guitar perfectly matching each other in both their density and their laconicism. Perhaps the exception is Gary’s drumming, which is at its most demonstrative and vivacious, as he adds some really neat flowery counterpoints to the overall alacrity of the sound. In turn, this vivacity does not sound out of place, instead adding to the rich atmosphere which the album evokes through its careful use of light and shade, extrapolation and condensation.
Once again, Skypilot have produced an album that is a richly rewarding listen. It doesn’t mess with their basic formula, which is to deliver massive riffs encrusted in more grime and muck than the bed of the River Lagan, and more sleech than that on which the city of Belfast is built, but to do so in a way which is remarkably clean, clear and concise.
This is the sound of a band confident in their ability to deliver on every level, which is why they remain one of my favourite acts on the local circuit in this particular corner of the Überverse… Fill your boots and get this rifftastic aural feast in your collections.
- ‘Simple Beasts’ is released on 19 August. You can get your copy HERE.
- Skypilot play an album launch show at Voodoo, Belfast, on Saturday 27 August. They then play the Crypt Of The Riff festival, also at Voodoo, on Friday 9 December.
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