August 2023 saw UK ragga-metal legends Skindred fight a closely contested chart race for the UK Number 1 Album spot with their colossal eighth album 'Smile'. With the incredible support of the rock and metal community – including messages of support from Metallica, Rage Against The Machine and Disturbed as well as Kerrang!, NME and Metal Hammer – the band landed a career best of Number 2 in the UK Album chart, leading to a feature on BBC Breakfast.
All of this followed an incredible career-defining year for Skindred – from announcing their biggest ever headline show at Wembley Arena for March 2024 and selling out multiple shows for their October 2023 headline tour months in advance, to gracing the cover of Kerrang! magazine for the first time. The band's 00s hit “Nobody” also saw an electrifying resurgence following a viral TikTok dance trend.
'Smile' attests to the enduring power of a band that delivers a good time, every time. “When I look out into the crowd, whether it’s in a small room or a festival crowd, the one thing I notice above all else is the smiles.” says Skindred's formidable frontman Benji. For him and for Skindred – completed by guitarist Mikey Demus, bassist Daniel Pugsley, and drummer Arya Goggin – it’s about enduring and it’s about legacy. “In life, it’s about hearing that our music has encouraged people and got them through dark times. But even when we’re done and gone, people will still be listening to this music. That thought makes me smile.”
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