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Skyclad - Prince Of The Poverty Line review



Reviewer:
9.6

151 users:
8.58
Band: Skyclad
Album: Prince Of The Poverty Line
Release date: March 1994


01. Civil War Dance
02. Cardboard City
03. Sins Of Emission
04. Land Of The Rising Slum
05. The One Piece Puzzle
06. A Bellyful Of Emptiness
07. A Dog In The Manger
08. Gammadion Seed
09. Womb Of The Worm
10. The Truth Famine

It's 1994, Skyclad is four years old, and they've already released their fourth album. While the sound on this release evolved from Thrash (Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth) to Folk (Jonah's Ark), "Prince Of The Poverty Line" marks a return to a heavier sound. In fact, it's the heaviest of all Skyclad's albums. Just to set the tone, the album begins with the roar of an angry crowd, and that makes way to the chorus that says "A bloody revolution is the simplest solution to the problems that they've made." Name of this song ? "Civil War Dance."

The lyrical content is on the same level throughout the album. Not so much about Paganism or anti-Christianity this time, the topic is much more urban and social, rooted in Skyclad's birth city: Newcastle. From the homeless (the aptly titled "Cardboard City") to drugs ("Womb Of The Worm") to the mistreated children ("A Dog In The Manger") and unemployment ("The Truth Famine"), the portrait of post-Thatcher Great Britain is not beautiful to behold.

"But where's the violin, the folk sound that we like in Skyclad?" you'll ask. Don't worry, it's there! Coupled with the guitars, outlining choruses and so on, the violin is present. Not always, but each time it's used, the impact of the song is magnified. For example, listen again to the chorus of "Civil War Dance" or to the intro of "A Dog In The Manger" with the violin boosted by the super-heavy bass line. Sometimes keyboards or samples are lightly but effectively used to enhance some parts of the songs. And so far I haven't even mentioned the, as always, excellent guitar parts of Steve Ramsay (definitively an underrated guitarist).

To conclude, the ultimate highlight of all the album is at the very end; the trilogy formed by "Gammadion Seed," "Womb Of The Worm," and "The Truth Famine." This is 17 minutes of pure Skyclad genius! There is no silence between the songs, barely the time to breathe before another wave of emotions crushes on you. Meditate a little during the mantra-like end of "Womb Of The Worm," before seeing the political disaster in "The Truth Famine." This last song always gives me the shivers.

This album is, for me, the very best album of an excellent band. It's in my top 10 of all time, all styles, all music!


Rating breakdown
Performance: 10
Songwriting: 10
Originality: 9
Production: 9

Written by Darkside Momo | 05.12.2006




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.


Comments

Comments: 11   Visited by: 144 users
06.12.2006 - 20:26
Richard

Good review! It's cool that you acknowledged the lyrical content being so inspired by 90's British social issues even though you're not British yourself, as it shows that Skyclad's intelligent use of wordplay can be appreciated universally.

Cardboard City, Gammadion Seed and The Truth Famine are my favourites here, and among Skyclad's best ever songs IMO.
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07.12.2006 - 01:10
Talvi

I've only heard Folkemon, and I really like it. How would you compare this album to that?
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07.12.2006 - 18:43
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Richard on 06.12.2006 at 20:26

Good review! It's cool that you acknowledged the lyrical content being so inspired by 90's British social issues even though you're not British yourself, as it shows that Skyclad's intelligent use of wordplay can be appreciated universally.

Thanks ! And yes, I agree with you about Martin's lyrics. After all it's one of Skyclad's trademarks

Written by Talvi on 07.12.2006 at 01:10

I've only heard Folkemon, and I really like it. How would you compare this album to that?

Folkemon has much more folk elements, while Prince of the Poverty Line has a really heavier sound, more thrash, with less folk elements. It has also a darkier mood.
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19.09.2010 - 04:14
Rating: 10
Morphis

Great review and great comments.

This album is also on my top of all time.

Deep thoughtful lyrics, magnificent guitars and folk elements used in a perfect dose.

Favourite song for me: Sins Of Emission (even though all songs are excelent)
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19.04.2014 - 04:46
RileyPittard

Some report says that Americans residing beneath the poverty line has increased to its highest number since the bureau started keeping such reports in 1959. Even before the country experience recession, there is already large number of Americans who experienced poverty and to sum up poverty is already in line of human's life. Though you work very hard and the country is poor you are not sure that you're secure in terms of financial status. Article resource: Americans below poverty line is highest number since records began
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27.07.2014 - 12:44
Stars Will Fall

This album is amazing. For me the best Skyclad album is The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth, the first one.

I bought more than 10 Skyclads CDs, all awesome.

Listen Prince of the Poverty Line!!! Very gooood!!!!

Hope Martin Walkyier bring us new music.
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06.05.2020 - 21:18
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I like this review I like the way you talk about lyrics, no paganism, this band has different approach, totally different point of view when comes lyrics, special from that time, good work, its sad you stop writing
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07.05.2020 - 12:07
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Bad English on 06.05.2020 at 21:18

I like this review I like the way you talk about lyrics, no paganism, this band has different approach, totally different point of view when comes lyrics, special from that time, good work, its sad you stop writing

Ahah thanks. Well I did stop writing reviews, but I nonetheless did two short texts on the latest "Wait A Minute! This Isn't Metal" article
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My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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07.05.2020 - 12:11
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Darkside Momo on 07.05.2020 at 12:07

Written by Bad English on 06.05.2020 at 21:18

I like this review I like the way you talk about lyrics, no paganism, this band has different approach, totally different point of view when comes lyrics, special from that time, good work, its sad you stop writing

Ahah thanks. Well I did stop writing reviews, but I nonetheless did two short texts on the latest "Wait A Minute! This Isn't Metal" article


I hope you still listen le metal
Try write something monthly or year reviev of french metal or Toulouse are metal something as blog?
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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07.05.2020 - 14:59
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11

I hope you still listen le metal

Yes
Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11

Try write something monthly or year reviev of french metal or Toulouse are metal something as blog?

nope. All shows are cancelled until september at best anyway...
----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
Loading...
07.05.2020 - 15:55
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Darkside Momo on 07.05.2020 at 14:59

Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11

I hope you still listen le metal

Yes
Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11

Try write something monthly or year reviev of french metal or Toulouse are metal something as blog?

nope. All shows are cancelled until september at best anyway...

Yes but still new bands comes we have cuts you can make french cuts

Hehe here in a north we have nothing, all might change when we will be snow free. No bans here. Only sport n gigs are cancelled, but otherwise life is as usuallty
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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