Welsh reggae metallers Skindred have been having a hell of a good time off the back of last year’s incredible ‘Smile’, their eighth album and first since 2018’s ‘Big Tings’. They’ve got a crowd-pleasing new video for us in the shape of ‘If I Could’, a pounding modern metal track with a chorus that’s sure to soar from the stage. They also scored big for the metal community by winning the Best Alternative Music Act at the MOBO Awards last week in Sheffield.
Reflecting on their win frontman Benji Webbe says, “To be nominated for a MOBO is such a massive deal for me and the boys in Skindred. I’ve been watching the MOBO’s since it started and always wondered why they didn’t have an alternative music category but last year that changed and was rectified with the Best Alternative Music Act added to the award ceremony. Not in my wildest dreams did I think Skindred would be at the MOBO’s but due to that new category we not only got nominated, but we actually won! As much as we were the band that’s been around the longest in this year’s nominees we weren’t guaranteed to actually win. So when the Nova Twins called our name at the ceremony we were all genuinely thrilled, buzzed and surprised. We have had so many well wishes and incredible messages of support & encouragement from all over the World. It is a great time to be in Skindred, it truly is!”
Drummer Arya Goggin adds, “We are both humbled and honoured to receive our MOBO Award. To be nominated was a dream come true, let alone actually win. I don’t think there are many bands that have won both a MOBO and a Metal Hammer award! This is what Skindred is all about.”
‘If I Could’ is taken from the band’s smash hit 2023 album Smile which entered the Official UK Album Chart at #2 in August and was garlanded with praise from critics and fans alike. The video showcases what a phenomenal live band Skindred are and features footage from various concerts and festivals last year, including their completely sold-out 2023 UK headlining tour.
Skindred play three more UK shows in March in Manchester (14th), Birmingham (16th) and London’s OVO Wembley Arena (15th), which will be their biggest UK headline show to date. Both Manchester and Birmingham are already sold out, with the final few tickets remaining for Wembley Arena.
Regarding headlining Wembley for the first time, Arya says, “We can’t wait. It’s going to be a very special night with a lot of surprises. Get your shirts ready to whip off for the biggest Helicopter yet! We are also stoked to have our friends in P.O.D and As Everything Unfolds with us at Manchester London and Birmingham. See you soon!”
In addition to the UK shows and Knotfest Australia, Skindred will be touring across the globe throughout 2024 with their first-ever show in New Zealand at the end of March, and festival appearances already confirmed at Sick New World in Las Vegas and Pinkpop in the Netherlands, plus a headline slot at Steelhouse Festival in the UK in July. Stand by for many more live announcements to come.
Watch the video here:
‘Smile’ is available now through Earache Records.
(Photo by MOBO Awards/Getty Images).