Hello Temple, today I'm reviewing "Take It or Leave It" by SKIP ROCK. Just for a little bit of background on me; I hate Country music with a passion. So I didn't think I would be into this album since it's a mix of Country and Metal. I was wrong, oh so very wrong.

SKIP ROCK is a small band from Germany, founded in 2009. Only 2 of the founding members out of 4 are still in the band to this date. The departure of both their former Bassist Rico Galvagno and his replacement Oi triggered a change in the band; they decided to change from Hard & Heavy Rock to a symbiosis of Metal and Southern and Western Rock. This is the first album from this era.

What really hit me on this album is the warm and melodic voice of Marc Terry. He really pours his soul in each song. It is a bit rugged on occasion, but always in tune. He really brings a charming sound that can hardly be imitated. If you are anything like me; the voice of the band is really what hits you first. I'm having a hard time coming up with a comparison for him; he has that kind of voice you can't forget.

The music throughout the album is very melodic. Going from electric to acoustic and back again on many occasions, the feeling is very good. This reminds me a lot of VOLBEAT which plays the same kind of music. They play this mix of genre perfectly; I really love what they did with this. They are not going crazy with a lot of solos or complicated riffs, but they keep it simple and to the point.

Here are the songs that I enjoyed the most on this album:
"Too Young":
This song is an awesome ballad, warm and very melodic. On the first listen; I was a bit confused with the slower beat and more Country like sound. But after a few times, it grew on me more than I want to admit. I really enjoy the warm feeling that comes from the lyrics and the voice of Marc. He is also joined by Gaby Weihmayer on this piece; her voice really fits with Marc's and brings a nice touch to this, already great, song.

"Rick n Nazty":
This song as a "je ne sais quoi" that made me want to wave my head and sing with him. It is very entertaining and fun to listen to. It's no surprise that this is the song they choose for a video clip out of this album. You can see for yourself in the video down below.

To conclude, I really like this album. From a small local band; I think SKIP ROCK could probably get known a lot more in a near future. The charisma of their singer could bring them somewhere. I'm going to continue listening to this album in my main playlist for sure and I will keep an eye on these guys.