Skynd - Are simply breathtaking in London

December 1st 2023

London, Koko, UK

*****

Alternative band impress in London

Skynd ***** are back in London again on their UK headline tour, after playing two very succesful shows with Ice nine Kills earlier in the year. Skynd have been gathering more and more fans, after a really succesful set at Bloodstock on the Sophie Lancaster stage. The band gained the respect of many people in the UK, when they paid respect to Sophie Lancaster in the very right way. They also have gained a very active Facebook group called The Skyndicate, which has very active members... that draw artwork and share videos and pictures they have taken at all of the bands shows.

Skynd are one of a number of new Alternative Goth / Darkwave bands to be gaining a massive fanbase, with other bands like Aesthetic Perfection / Deathstars / Mimi Barks / She passed Away / Cold Cave / Ray Noir and many more... all getting very popular again or for the first time. This is shown by Skynd playing a much bigger venue tonight, the Koko in Camden, London, UK. Skynd's songs are all about true crime / murders and murderers, with each song being named after the name of a murderer or a victim. So when they open with Richard Ramirez, everyone knows that this is going to be a very dark evening. Of course Richard Ramirez (Aka The Night Stalker), was a very disturbed man and serial killer who would walk the halls of Cecil Hotel covered in blood after killing his victims all around L.A..

The second track in their set 'Elisa Lam' is one of my favourite Skynd songs, about the chinese girl that was found dead in the water tank also in the Cecil Hotel in L.A., and this song was missing on her last UK tour with Ice nine Kills so I am very happy it has been added to the setlist. The strange thing with this occurance was that their was a film called 'Dark Water', where a girl was found in a water tank at a hotel released a few years earlier. I first heard of the singer Skynd under her actual name Marina Ortega, when a friend had told me you have to check her out she is really good, And I really liked the tracks, but didn't realise it was her straight away when I saw her supporting Rob Zombie in Glasgow, Scotland. The facepaint might have confused me a bit, you don't hear much about the other band members who work on the music with her and I think they like it this way because they are far at the back of the stage.

I have to say, I do have so many songs by Skynd on my Spotify playlist. Their is so much merit to each of their tracks, with each speaking to me / listener in a different way. Their is such emotion in her voice, and you real think she feels and channels the events she is singing about. To the point you worry that it might be harmful to her, or taking over her in some way like a possesion. The things she sings abour are dark and evil subjects, whcih carn't be good for someone to sing every night. Like the track 'Gary Heidink' whiched featured Jonathan Davis (Korn) which is something else, the passion, the emotion, the love, the harmful dread. Of course Jonathan Davis wasn't in attendance to do the song with her, but I am sure one day I will get the privilege to finally see this. I totally understand, why this song was the closure for the show.

I have to say they should have sold Jim Jones red Kool-Aid at the bar, that would have been amazing. I know when they did their first UK headline show at the London, Electrowerkz, they gave people Kool-Aid out of red cups as a promotion. But their was no mass suicide, so really don't worry. When they played 'John Wayne Gacy' I realised it's an instant new classic, this is a strong track that I like more and more everytime I listen to it. Another one of my favourite songs is 'Columbine' with it's "Ra-ta-ta-ta, Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta, Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!!!", which has a great rhythm to it. And it almost hypnotises you and drags you in, so I think it's why it's near the end of the set, the same thing with Tyler Hadley (which you can see the Video for at the bottom of this page). These are also early songs for Skynd and some of their most played songs, I think they really make a big impact... I know they did at the show.

I have to say the show was amazing, she really dragged everyone into the life of serial killers and true crime. And she really has a great stage presence, that you don't seem to find live that much these days. She really has something special and unique, so it's always a pleasure to see her live. The only things I would like to say would need to change to bring her to the next level is, that her band members are now at the back and at times you can't really see them. Also I think she needs to add more visuals, maybe some screens and props. But I think this will come in time, it's hard to put on a huge shows when you are just coming out. Also I think she really needs to release CD / Vinyl copies of her releases, I have only been able to get a copy of 'Michelle Carter' on vinyl, and I would like to own more of her material. What is nice is she waits at the merch booth after her performance to meet all her fans, which I think is something special. I think you are going to see alot of Skynd in the future, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Review and Photos by Dan Devour

Skynd - Setlist
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Richard Ramirez
Elisa Lam
Michelle Carter
Robert Hansen
Bianca Devins
Aileen Wuornos
Jim Jones
John Wayne Gacy
Marshall Applewhite
Columbine
Edmund Kemper
Tyler Hadley
Gary Heidnik