“Everywhere you go in Africa, you will hear of Sangomas…,” explains Skinflint frontman Giuseppe Sbrana, sometimes referred to as Juice. Amongst the Zulu societies of Southern Africa, a sangoma will diagnose, prescribe medicine, or perform rituals to help those in need of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual healing.
Leading the charge for the handful of metal acts from Botswana, the Gaborone-based Skinflint have recently unveiled Baloi – their eighth full-length album and follow-up to last year’s Hate Spell. With an African rock dry tone and a Motorhead heavy proto-metal / punk energy, the trio of members Juice, Raskebo, and Cossy are genuinely incomparable.
Does Skinflint sound faintly familiar? The group recently wrapped up a US trek supporting Soulfly. If you didn’t catch them perform it live, experience their new video for “Sangoma Blood Magic,” the gritty, closing track from the aforementioned record, pairing a unique delivery of heavy metal to the topic of sangoma rituals and blood magic.