Skinlab Debut Groove Metal Cover Of Hatebreed’s “Last Breath”

Bay Area groove metal veterans Skinlab have unveiled their newly recorded cover of Hatebreed’s early track “Last Breath”, officially premiering the band’s reworked take online.

The track — originally appearing on Hatebreed’s landmark 1997 album ‘Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire’ — was recorded with producer Ulrich Wild (Static-X, Taproot) overseeing the sessions. The release also marks Skinlab’s first studio recording with new guitarist Angelo Miles.

According to vocalist/bassist Steev Esquivel, the idea to cover the song has been years in the making rather than a spontaneous decision.

“‘Last Breath’ is one of those metal anthems that hits you in the chest every time. We’ve been Hatebreed fans from day one. Our boy Brett Makowski — Buzzard — turned us onto them on our first tour. We were instantly blown away by the pure aggression and energy. ‘Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire’ is one of the heaviest albums to this day. I’ve been wanting to do ‘Last Breath’ for years.”

Producer Ulrich Wild also discussed the approach behind translating the hardcore staple into Skinlab’s groove metal framework.

“It’s always a challenge to do a cover song justice. You have to stay true to the original yet adapt it to your own style. It’s easy to simply play the song — any cover band does that. You have to catch the vibe, but allow yourself the freedom to experiment within the boundaries of the composition. With ‘Last Breath’ we’re taking a very raw hardcore track and pushing it into the groove metal world for which Skinlab is known. Along with that come multi-layered vocal tracks — Steev’s signature sound — and new dimensions with additional guitars and a solo.”

The rendition has already earned praise from longtime Hatebreed guitarist/vocalist Wayne Lozinak, who shared his approval while continuing his recovery following brain tumor surgery last year.

“Loving this cover of ‘Last Breath’! Some different sounds in there going on too, putting a cool twist on it and taking it to a new place. If you haven’t heard it yet, go check it out!”

Skinlab recently kicked off ‘The Tour Of Unsound Minds’ alongside groove metal pioneers Exhorder, with the following remaining dates scheduled:

With Exhorder:

• 04/07 Manchester, NH – Jewell
• 04/08 Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
• 04/09 Amityville, NY – AMH
• 04/10 Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall
• 04/11 Manalapan, NJ – Locals
• 04/12 Chesapeake, VA – Riffhouse
• 04/13 Atlanta, GA – 529
• 04/14 Raleigh, NC – Chapel Of Bones
• 04/15 Piedmont, SC – Tribbles
• 04/16 Chattanooga, TN – BoneBar
• 04/17 Dunbar, WV – Live At The Shop
• 04/18 Chicago, IL – Reggie’s
• 04/19 Cadillac, MI – The Venue

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