Artist description It was the sheer conviction with which the band execute their material that eventually attracted the attention of Century Media Records, who quickly proceeded to ink a deal with the group in early 1997. Championed by MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn (who assisted the group during the pre-production stages for the album) as one of the most impressive new groups on the scene, SKINLAB entered San Francisco's Hyde Street Studios in February to begin work on their debut album for the label, with the mixing sessions taking place at Liverpool, England's Parr Street facility. Produced by Andy Sneap (noted for his work with MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH and EXODUS), Bound, Gagged And Blindfolded was released in Europe and was immediately met with rave reviews from the metal press, with Kerrang! calling the album "a monster...a gigantic portion of groove-ridden power", Metal Hammer referring to the record as a "fully-crafted classic" and Terrorizer stating "this is one of the most crushing debuts". The album's release was followed by a month-long European tour with MACHINE HEAD and NAPALM DEATH (which included an appearance at Holland's Dynamo Festival), DATES WITH EXODUS and a three week run with GRIP INC. all combined saw SKINLAB perform throughout the continent to an overwhelmingly positive response. "Soundscapes, that's what we like to create," stated Esquivel about the band's sound. "We have come to realize that sometimes less is better, so we keep it simple. We tune our shit down to A sharp, and that's so fuckin' low that the strings are bouncing off the fretboard and the drums are [tuned] so low that the skins are flapping." Presently preparing for an extensive US tour with labelmates EXODUS, SKINLAB are anxious to make their mark on the metal scene by establishing a unique sound and style without betraying their musical roots, an approach which they will expand upon on their future efforts.

Music Style Hardcore Metal

Musical Influences A dark, ominous hybrid of MACHINE HEAD and NEUROSIS, with a style and intensity that transcends any comparisons.

Similar Artists Skinlab

Artist History Formed in September 1995 by the nucleus of Steev Esquivel and Mike Roberts, SKINLAB gigged regularly in the local Bay Area region, performing headlining and supporting shows with such national acts as MACHINE HEAD, CROWBAR, VOIVOD and FORBIDDEN, while continuing to hone and perfect their crushingly heavy musical and songwriting approach. Over the course of two demo tapes, Suffer and When Pain Comes To Surface (the latter produced by former TESTAMENT/OBITUARY/DEATH axeman James Murphy and financed by Roadrunner Records), SKINLAB created a sound that was described by some as a dark, ominous hybrid of MACHINE HEAD and NEUROSIS, but with a style and intensity that transcends any comparisons.

Group Members Steev Esquivel - vocals/bass Glenny - guitar Snake - guitar Paul Hopkins - drums

Albums reVoltingRoom, Bound, Gagged & Blindfolded, Eyesore - Limited EP

Location San Fransisco, CA. - USA

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