AUGUST 20th 2026
SKUNK ANANSIE

 Review by:Evan Dahl
 Photos By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Full Gallery:
http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/skunk-anansie-sodakill/

Skunk Anansie have been around for eternity, so big yet so inaccessible and mysterious, so catchy yet with such a blend of underground. Finally I have a chance to see them live and I do not know what to expect - it is a pure enigma. They sell out a big venue, which indicates it is just me who is new to this experience. 

As I enter the venue, I note it is dominated by women, which is unusual for a rock gig. 

I am slightly late so I only catch a few of the last songs of the warm-up act. What the hell is that? It is officially the worst live vocals I have ever experienced. No exaggeration, it is just dreadfully terrible. The material might be ok, there is even a violin, but the vocals are just absurdly nauseous. Gender should never go before the quality, it could be an idea to have a listenable band play despite they might be males. Sounds wild, I know, but just an idea. Ok, ok, maybe I need to check the recordings, I simply cannot believe something like this could get a slot, it must just be a very very bad day for the band. Luckily, it is very soon over for me, since I am late. 

One extra thing I noted is a total absence of merch from the headliner, so this might be a bad day not only for the opening act. Skunk Anansie have a very big stage setting with a very high riser for the drums. Line check is promising a huge sound, the musicians are placed quite far from the stage edge - judging by these loads of pedals.The slightly delayed band finally starts. Aaaaand the intro is simply massive. Gorgeous lights. Ooooh myyyy dooooog! THESE vocal notes. WHOA, simply WOW!! Skin is everywhere on the front and takes all human and inhuman frequencies. 

Intro shifts into War. The mix, punchy drums, these lights, all is just too good to be true - and a pure perfection for pedal effect nerds. The vocals are just some extraterrestrial experience. Damn, absolute top everything. The only time I had such a feeling of “all is perfect” is when I last saw Meshuggah (well, not only last time - several last times with Meshuggah). 

There are a lot of back tracks, obviously everyone has in-ears with the click. Very good backing vocals and very smart vocal effects in general. 

Modest guitars in the mix, but everything sounds great. Charlie big potato, Because of you, Love someone else, An artist is an artist (MUCH better than on recording!), God loves only you, Shame, Weak as I am, Twisted, My ugly boy, some crowdsurfing of Skin around this one (while singing - no compromise on vocals), I can dream, Animal, Yes it’s fucking political, Tear the place up, Little baby swastika, Hedonism, Lost and found, Highway hell, Skankheads.  

No merch today due to Brexit, as we find out. There is not much interaction with the audience, and I appreciate almost no breaks between the songs. Great evening full of contrasts. From the worst experience to absolutely fabulous Skunk Anansie. Looking forward to the next time I see this band!