It’s been a while since we’ve had a new Skunk Anansie record to sink our teeth into, but The Painful Truth isn’t just a comeback, it’s a controlled explosion of everything they’ve ever stood for, turned up and stripped back in equal measure. It’s bold, political, emotional, and at times, achingly vulnerable, yet still somehow stadium-shaking. If this is what reinvention sounds like, sign us up.
Frontwoman Skin has always had the ability to cut through noise with truth, and here, she’s absolutely razor-sharp. From the very beginning of this record there’s a rawness to her delivery that feels laser-focused. There’s something unapologetically human about how she lays it all bare.
The band haven’t lost any of their punch either. Tracks like “Shame” hit like they were written in a pressure cooker. It channels frustration, injustice, and personal grief into something cathartic and also…strangely uplifting. “Lost and Found” also stands tall here. It’s cinematic and soulful, it’s one of those tracks that simmers with emotion and lets the vocals take centre stage. You get immediately drawn into this one in the opening moments of the track where it’s completely stripped back to just those incredible vocals.
But The Painful Truth isn’t just loud for the sake of it. There’s a delicate touch too. “Meltdown,” the haunting closer, reminds us that underneath the rage, there’s always a heartbeat. A bruised but defiant pulse that gives this album a lot of its soul. This track is a slow burner but it’s absolutely beautiful.
But The Painful Truth isn’t just loud for the sake of it. There’s a delicate touch too. “Meltdown,” the haunting closer, reminds us that underneath the rage, there’s always a heartbeat. A bruised but defiant pulse that gives this album a lot of its soul. This track is a slow burner but it’s absolutely beautiful.
What’s refreshing here is that Skunk Anansie doesn’t sound like a legacy act trying to recreate old magic, nowhere near it. They sound like they’ve genuinely got something new to say. There’s grit, there’s evolution, and there’s a modern edge to the production that keeps things sharp. You get the sense they’re not chasing trends, but they’re also not stuck in the past.
If you’re already a fan, this album will feel like a powerful next chapter. And if you’re new to the band, The Painful Truth might just be the best introduction yet. It’s honest, angry, beautiful, and absolutely unapologetic.
‘The Painful Truth’ comes in with a nice 8.5 out of 10
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography