Just got this in the mail today. Anyone else heard it?

I absolutely loved A Semblance of Normality, it's probably in my top 3 albums of the decade.

I'm giving the new one its first listen right now. Hard to say anything yet... my expectations are high and this is not an instant pleaser, but it certainly does seem to have a lot of potential.

I listened to the stream of the album on their Myspace and was a bit less than enthused. I will undoubtedly pick it up in the next few weeks, but it didn't bowl me over immediately like Semblance did. And of course, being a Walkyier fanboy, Martin's presence is sorely missed on my part.

I've had this for a week now and I've given it about eight or nine spins so I think I can now say it's not up to the standards set by the previous Clad release. I still like Kevin Ridley's vocals, but I don't know if he's playing to his strengths anymore - a lot of it sounds like he's trying more to sound like Walkyier than Ridley. And as charismatic and good as Walkyier is, Ridley is equally good in his own style. No need to change too much.

The guitars and fiddle and compositions all around are solid Skyclad. I love that strange little laid-back solo on Hit List. You don't always need to shred, if the song doesn't require it.

The songs are quite good, and I keep changing my favourites quite often. Actually, the only ones I've constantly not liked are the Ridley penned tracks, 5, 8 and 10. The rest is very good. Just not A Semblance of Normality good. Overall it's quite heavy, and no more orchestration, which I think was the point -> a stripped down album - Skyclad in the altogether.

So the album is 'OK', but it definitely does feel damn good to have a new Skyclad album to listen to! It's been a long wait.

Favourites: Hit List, Modern Minds, Still Small Beer, A Well-Travelled Man

I was gonna get this last week but I have to hold back on the spending a little.

I saw Skyclad last night. Apart from the classic set they played the first four songs off the new album (Words Upon the Street, Still Small Beer, The Well Travelled Man and Black Summer Rain).

I talked a little with Kevin Ridley after the show and he said since it's the 20th anniversary of the band this year, there are plans to re-release the back catalogue. Great news for those like me having trouble getting those old albums. Right now I only have six of their albums.

The show was good. The band was received well and people really took into the drinking songs. Maybe a bit too much, I'd say. Bal-Sagoth headlined. This was the third time I've seen Skyclad.

Here's a picture of me and Steve Ramsey from last year.