Thick is the Skin--RealAudio

The first batch of new music from the band in eight years comes without Sebastian Bach on board, as Johnny Solinger takes over the vocal duties. The "word" is that much of the album had been ready since the late '90s, but delays of various sorts kept pushing things back.
The results here are varied. Solinger has nowhere near the range as Bach (who does?), and his voice is somewhat grittier overall. Still, there are times when he comes close in sound--especially on tunes which musically sound like old Skids. Which brings us to the music... A few tracks are very "Slave/Subhuman" sounding, which is nice to hear. However, a number of tracks have a late-'90s alt/rock feel, ala Bush or Tonic. Strange... strange.
"New Generation" is a cranky start, and all of "Mouth of Voodoo," "Lamb," and "Hittin' a Wall" sound like they could be near misses from 'Slave to the Grind' or 'Subhuman Race'. Not quite good enough to make the cut back then... but good enough to be recorded, just the same.
"Thick is the Skin" is a full-tilt metal track, no bones about it. The heaviest on the disc, and a good sound. The songs that make you scratch you head a bit include "Ghost," "Swallow Me," and "Born a Beggar". They're not really bad at all, actually. They're just... well, different.
Oh well. It's not the Skids of old, but there are some very redeeming points to be found.

TRACK LIST: New Generation/Ghost/Swallow Me (The Real You)/Born a Beggar/Thick is the Skin/See You Around/Mouth of Voodoo/One Light/I Remember You Two/Lamb/Down From Underground/Hittin' a Wall