Skyclad - Prince Of The Poverty Line - guest review
Skyclad - Prince Of The Poverty Line - guest review
Tracklist
01. Civil War Dance02. 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
Guest review by
Darkside Momo December 05, 2006
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 | December 05, 2006
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments:
11
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 Posts: 4862 |
Posts: 4862
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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I've only heard Folkemon, and I really like it. How would you compare this album to that?
---- My account on other musical pages: http://www.last.fm/user/Pozito/ http://rateyourmusic.com/~Talvi
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 Posts: 9125 |
Posts: 9125 Written by Richard on 06.12.2006 at 20:26 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 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.
---- 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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Posts: 80  |
Posts: 80
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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 Posts: 64434 |
Posts: 64434
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 
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 9125 Written by Bad English on 06.05.2020 at 21:18 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 
---- 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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Posts: 64434 Written by Darkside Momo on 07.05.2020 at 12:07 I hope you still listen le metal Try write something monthly or year reviev of french metal or Toulouse are metal something as blog?
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die" I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 9125 Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11 Yes Written by Bad English on 07.05.2020 at 12:11 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"
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Posts: 64434 Written by Darkside Momo on 07.05.2020 at 14:59 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
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die" I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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