Skinflint (band)

Skinflint is a heavy metal band from Gaborone, Botswana.[1] They have incorporated elements from African culture into heavy metal music,[2] attracting the attention of international media.[3] Their releases, Iklwa,[4] Gauna[5] and Dipoko,[6] pay homage to ancestral beliefs and African spirituality,[7] while the band still plays in the vein of traditional heavy metal.

Skinflint
Left to right: Giuseppe Sbrana, Kebonye Nkolso and Alessandra Sbrana
Background information
OriginGaborone, Botswana
GenresAfrican heavy metal
Years active2006–present
Labels
  • Pure Steel
  • Legion of Death
Websitewww.skinflintmetal.com
Members
  • Giuseppe Sbrana
  • Kebonye Nkoloso
  • Alessandra Sbrana
Past members
  • Mothusi Mahuri

Band history

Formation (2006)

Skinflint was founded by lead guitarist and vocalist Giuseppe Sbrana[8] in 2006. He recruited Kebonye Nkoloso[9] on bass guitar and Alessandra Sbrana[10] on drums.

Skinflint's music mixes elements of local traditional music with heavy metal,[11] inspired by Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.[11]

Line-up change: the Iklwa era (2007-2011)

Drummer Alessandra Sbrana parted ways with Skinflint in 2007, and was replaced by Mothusi Mahuri.[12] The band then began writing Massive Destruction, which was released on 6 June 2009.[13] The album was never distributed outside of Botswana. In 2010 the band recorded their second album, Iklwa, and later launched the album at the Whiplash Metal festival in Cape Town, South Africa on 11 December 2010.[14] Iklwa was distributed by Legion of Death records and later by Pure Steel Records.[15]

Gauna era (2011-2012)

The band produced a 7" EP titled Gauna[5] with Legion of Death records, featuring three exclusive songs, "Mantis Skull", "Bloody Gqokli", and "Gauna".[16] The release also included a live version of the song "Iklwa", as a bonus track.

In 2012, the band was interviewed by Errol Barnett of CNN and performed the title track, "Gauna", live for CNN's Inside Africa after the interview.[17]

Dipoko era (2012-present)

Mothusi Mahuri parted ways with Skinflint, and Alessandra Sbrana returned to the helm for drum duties.[18] The band began recording Dipoko and launched the album at the Nairobi Rock fest on 8 December 2012, in Nairobi, Kenya.[18][19] In July 2013 Dipoko was re-released through Pure Steel Records,[6] and the band embarked on their first European tour.[20]

Upon their return, the band was interviewed by Mark Tutton,[3] where Giuseppe Sbrana discussed the expansion, and interest in the African metal scene.

Discography

Massive Destruction[13]

  • Released: 2009
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent
  • Tracks: Eight

Iklwa[4]

  • Released: 2010
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Pure Steel Records
  • Producer: Ivo Sbrana
  • Tracks: Ten
  • Bonus tracks: Army of the Dead, Gauna (Live)

Gauna[5]

  • Released: 2011
  • Format: 7"
  • Label: Legion of Death Records
  • Producer: Ivo Sbrana
  • Tracks: Four
  • Bonus tracks: IKLWA (Live)

Dipoko[6]

  • Released: 2013
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Pure Steel Records
  • Producer: Ivo Sbrana
  • Tracks: Nine

Chief of the Ghosts

  • Released: 2016
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Metal Records
  • Tracks: Nine

Band members

Current band members

Past band members
  • Mothusi Mahuri: drums (2007–2012)
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References
  1. Skinflint Official Page Archived 14 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. "Botswana Skinflint Mixes Metal With Its Own History" [SVT play], retrieved 1 November 2013.
  3. Tutton, Mark. "Botswana's metal heads still rocking". CNN Inside Africa. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  4. xFiruath. "Skinflint (IKLWA) CD". Metal Underground. Retrieved 25 May 2001.
  5. "Gauna". Discogs.
  6. Heron, Linda. "SKINFLINT "Dipoko" – Cover, Tracklist, Released 26th July 2013". Planet Mosh. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  7. Redgrave, Oslo. "Interview with Giuseppe Sbrana of Skinflint". EGMNOW. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  8. "Giuseppe Sbrana". Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  9. "Kebonye Nkoloso". The Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum.
  10. "Alessandra Sbrana". Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum.
  11. Lex, Von. "Skinflint "The Metallic Sound Of Southern Africa"". METALGLORY. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  12. "Mothusi Mahuri". Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum.
  13. "Skinflint Massive Destruction". Metal Storm.
  14. Heidmann, David. "Stocking up on whoop-ass for Whiplash!". Metal4Africa. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  15. "Iklwa". Rate Your Music.
  16. "Gauna on Legion of Death records". Legion of Death Records.
  17. Barnett, Errol. "The sound of Botswana's Metal Music". CNN. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  18. Dipholo, Kabelo. "Skinflint's Ghostly 2013". The Voice. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  19. Van Den Worm, Heinrich. "Nairobi Rock fest 8th December!". Junk Mail Kenya. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014.
  20. Keaketswe, Kabo. "Skinflint to rock Sweden". Daily News.
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