Dealing with the environmental crisis has always been imperative, for humanity to comprehend its dangerous behavior and lack of care towards the means that partially allow them to actually breath. However, there are other sides to the coin, to where prosperity is virtually a lie, another version of civilization, scapegoats of society's failures, a wave of individuals living beneath cities or running their own kingdom of slums. Feelings of depression, civil unrest, political meltdown and anguish towards the governing forces that apparently have been misleading their public that everything is milk and honey. One of the virtues of SKYCLAD is dwelling into the hard issues that make our lives miserable, preaching about them while trying to wake up whoever has a say. Still under the year by year release mania, the British band unleashed their fourth release, which I consider as their harshest in their Folk / Pagan Metal course of action, "Prince Of The Poverty Line".

Musically, this is where SKYCLAD outdone themselves in an effort that should have been their basis for the rest of their career. Leaving aside the Alternative nation of the somewhat FAITH NO MOREish fashion that grazed their songs on "Jonah's Ark", in a surprising turn to their debut album, "The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth". It had me puzzled for a moment due to the previous being quite a step forward in their songwriting and instrumental quality. However, I guess there was a demand for a heavier tone to take on the reins, and therefore, a decisive mid-tempo Heavy / Thrash Metal deposition, bearing old school driven riffs and electrifying melodic licks and solos. Even so, SKYCLAD didn't leave behind their Folkish efforts, and reimburse with Violin implementations that were placed within the tunes and gave that graceful edge that worked so well with the meaty riffs. Beyond and above the musical alterations, which were to my benefit actually, the complex songwriting remained similar to the last two albums but on a rather catchier note, yet don't expect any mainstream connection.

"A Dog in the Manger" proved itself to the be the ultimate SKYCLAD song, it elevated the band's style and matured their image. It might be a slight intermission in their constant experimentation, yet it ascertained a focus on their excellent Metal durability, especially if you take into account the killer solo right closer to the wrap up. The social decay is exemplified intensely with "Cardboard City", a cutting edge musical piece that erupts with a sonic Metal flame that is slightly tamed by the ambience of top notch keyboards layer. "Sins of Emission" turning things a bit brutal, yet it displays a catchy number that is a certain crowd pleaser. "Gammadion Seed" and "A Bellyful of Emptiness" are a swift turn to the debut album, but with a small twist underneath, heavy numbers that showcasing the band's Metal wrath and genuine songcraft. As part of the bonus tracks that tagged along with the reissue, I enjoyed the power driven madness surrounding the live performance of the debut's "Cradle Will Fall", the band simply exploded on stage with this one, Thrash vein as it can be, this kind of ferocity is terribly miss nowadays from this band. Also recommended: "The One Piece Puzzle" and "Womb of the Worm".

On my list, "Prince Of The Poverty Line" is the true image of SKYCLAD, sinking their teeth into the tougher aspects of life, creating a strong Metal shell that is Thrash Metal in its basis while immersing it with the source of Folklore music. A top of the line album that is their foremost achievement