Album Review: Skies Turn Black – Broken Hearts & Bad Habits (Sliptrick Records)

Skies Turn Black are back with their second full length titled Broken Hearts And Bad Habits, set for release on the 27th June via Sliptrick Records.

The 5 piece heavy metal band hail from the North of England and deliver an intoxicating mix of 80’s heavy metal nostalgia but modernised with an electronic edge that allows them to traverse genres. That capacity to go from poppy choruses to aggressive drops, blazing solos, and keytar led synth sections makes for an exciting, interesting and entertaining listen. Bursting into our ears in 2015 with their debut self titled EP, the band had to work hard to find a place and a sound they were happy with. A successful full length release in 2018 with the album No Place Like Home saw Metal Hammer herald the album as “One of the best guitar albums of the year” and it looked like the band were on the way to big and bright things.

Continuing to explore their sound, and find their place, Skies Turn Black added a keytar to their lineup and that allowed them to really diversify their sound and explore what electronics can add to their sound and heavy metal overall. It was a good move and the band are stronger for it, and, along with the release of some strong singles on the way, saw them land a spot at Bloodstock Festival 2023. They have gone on to perform at sold out shows in Sunderland, Nottingham, Huddersfield and Bristol and, away from the stage, worked tirelessly to really refine and define their sound. All of that hard work comes to fruition now with Broken Hearts And Bad Habits, an album that focuses on hooks, whilst keeping the band’s intricate guitar work and anthemic choruses.

Every song on the album exposes a vulnerability, addressing personal issues of love and lust, heartbreak and depression, as each song undertakes a journey of self-worth. Each song can be categorised as either a “Broken Heart” or a “Bad Habit” song.

Broken Hearts & Bad Habits brings 11 new tracks to our ears, getting under way with Moment In The Moonlight. A song that leans heavily on pop and synth sounds with a pretty horrid intro of synth vocals (I’m really not a fan of effect laden vocals) but a song that transforms into a catchy and fun number. An upbeat tempo with nice layered vocals and some fancy guitars but there is a really heavy electro/synth influence. I like the general vibe of the song but I’m not 100% convinced on the flow of it – it feels a little messy at times, and while I do like synth generally, it feels a little overloaded here as the band introduce their new sound by really pushing it on the opener.

While the overall style of heavy dance and pop influence with lots of synth intertwined with drums and guitars continues into Sin With Me, it seems more balanced for large parts with a good tempo, nice vocals and catchy drums. We also get heavier for a short blast before it descends back into oddity and madness with the natural place for a solo being replaced with a chaotic mix of sounds, synth vocals and effects and as much as I want to like it, I don’t. I’m glad when we do get back to the very good chorus but the EDM breakdown does little for me too.

Lonely Valentine’s has some nice guitar melody and a catchy rhythm. It flows well, it is an easier listen though being the 3rd track with verses heavily synthesised, there is some repetition in those verses. The chorus is catchy and there is a decent guitar solo with synth but where the guitar leads. It’s a much better song overall for my taste, mainly because the balance is better. Loads of synth and a very light and poppy track, but with strong drums, guitars and vocals and they are working together, not battling each other for the right to be heard.

Angel has a really cool beat to it with a head nodding rhythm, a strong chorus and verses that are more traditional with bass, guitars and drums and a more subtle foundation of synth. I really like the vocals throughout and the little section where the music slows and the vocals speed up is really cool. It leads into an okay mix of electronics, effects and synth which I can enjoy because it then leads into a guitar solo. That offers balance, and that I like.

More Than That brings a nice ballad style to it’s intro but what is going on with all the effects and noises that it leads into? I dislike those elements immensely, but it’s really complicated because I then really like the verses that they lead into and I think the chorus is great. Then, just as I get into it, an electronic effect is shoe horned in, saying something that I can’t really even make out.

All I keep thinking is “less is more” as we move into Gone With The Wind and On The Run.

The former has an upbeat tempo and good drums. The vocals are strong and Skies Turn Black feels a bit more familiar here with riffs aplenty, great harmonising vocals, soaring guitars and a seriously catchy flow. It’s like a different band and while the synth is still plentiful, it compliments the song rather than drowning it. The guitars are stunning in a song that absolutely hits the mark. The latter, On The Run picks the pace up further and carries on with the more traditional metal vibe. I really do like the vocals a lot, and love the harmonising and layers. The synth is good here, again complimenting the song well. Strong bass lines, strong riffs, strong drums and some harsh vocals, it’s a banger with a fiery solo. Broken Hearts & Bad Habits is certainly a wide and wild mix of styles so far.

Bullet In My Heart stays in that traditional/80’s metal style. The chorus is great – these guys can write memorable choruses – and the flow through the verses works wonderfully well. I like the little blasts of synth that bookmark each passage. It’s a song that you want to learn the lyrics too and sing along with. A song that makes you want to move and bounce around. The solo is probably my favourite so far on the album too.

The Witness has the catchiest, weirdest and most unexpected pop punk styled intro that it really threw me off for a bit. When you shake yourself out of the “wtf” moment, it is a really catchy poppy song with nice keys and a clever structure. The little blasts of drums and guitars in the verses build towards a crescendo in the wicked chorus where the riffs reign. It’s very different, but it’s good but gets a little extra with the synth and effects during the musical/solo section.

Andromeda is our penultimate track and this time, As Skies Turn Black go for a softer approach with a very gentle song that sounds radio ready. It’s nicely sung with some soft and subtle melodies, building up to a harder hitting chorus but that’s where it all falls apart for me personally really as it’s just too much, and too messy. Effects everywhere, synth shooting off in every direction and fighting against the more traditional drums and guitars that are doing some good work. The vocals are superb, the ideas and creativity impress me but for my personal taste, it’s not listenable.

Edge Of The World closes out this eclectic and varied album with one of the best songs on the album. It’s a rock ballad that is sung beautifully, feels authentic and emotionally raw. Musically it’s gorgeous, perfectly balancing keys and orchestral layers with the drums and guitars. The vocal harmonising is beautiful, the solo soars and pulls on your heart. It really showcases just how much talent and potential exist within this creative band and is a song that I will be playing a lot over the course of this year, and probably beyond.

Oh man, where do I even start with summarising how I feel about Broken Hearts & Bad Habits. If you, like me, come in to this album, looking forward to singling along with soaring metal tracks and “searching for a sacred silver lining” you are probably going to be a little disappointed. If you are not a fan of synth, electronica and effects, you will also leave disappointed. Even if you are okay with them, when used subtly, there are songs and moments you will find challenging. The first half of this album in particular is very different to what I expected – I kind of like that surprise factor really,  but my personal taste tells me that these songs are not balanced as well as I would like them.

I feel that the traditional instruments are buried under waves of synth and it is distracting from the clear talent and creativity, the clever riffs and drums, the wonderful vocals. But, there are also phenomenal songs on here, and even in the songs I don’t adore, there are amazing moments, great solos, and superb choruses. Broken Hearts & Bad Habits is a true cauldron of chaos. This is everything and the kitchen sink and that is a lot. For me, the best songs on here are when they reign in their creativity a bit.

What I do appreciate and respect though is how the band have reinvented themselves and it is extremely clear that they are awash with creativity, ideas and talent. With such a varied mix of music on Broken Hearts & Bad Habits, it is well worth investing some time into the album because you will find some songs on here you love, maybe all of them, but definitely some of them. I also look forward to seeing some of these, even the ones I don’t love, live as I get the feeling these songs will be great fun live when you are a few beers in and up for some moving and dancing.

Track List:

01- Moment In The Moonlight
02- Sin With Me
03- Lonely Valentine’s
04- Angel
05- More Than That
06- Gone With The Wind
07- On The Run
08- Bullet In My Heart
09- The Witness
10- Andromeda
11- Edge Of The World

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