Bay Area groove metal veterans SKINLAB have released their take on HATEBREED's hardcore metal classic 'Last Breath', originally from the Connecticut bruisers' 1997 debut album 'Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire'. The cover was produced, mixed, and mastered by Ulrich Wild and released via Wild's own WURMgroup imprint.
The recording marks the studio debut of SKINLAB's newest guitarist, Angelo Miles, and reinterprets the track within SKINLAB's own heavy, groove-driven aesthetic rather than offering a straight replica of the original. Features include multi-layered vocal arrangements and additional guitar textures that expand on the source material. HATEBREED guitarist Wayne Lozinak gave the cover his stamp of approval: "Loving this cover... putting a cool twist on it and taking it to a new place."
Frontman Steev Esquivel articulated why this particular track resonated: "Last Breath is one of those metal anthems that hits you in the chest every time." Producer Wild noted the challenge of covering such an iconic song: "You have to stay true to the original yet adapt it to your own style... You have to catch the vibe, but allow yourself the freedom to experiment."
The release comes as SKINLAB are currently on the road as direct support for EXHORDER on the 'Tour Of Unsound Minds' (April 2–19). The band, formed in 1994, is also working on a new full-length album — their first since 2019's 'Venomous'.