Skinlab have stepped back into the pit with a fresh take on Hatebreed’s early crusher ‘Last Breath’, delivering a version that leans hard into the track’s blunt force aggression without sanding off its edge.
The groove metal veterans tracked the cover with producer Ulrich Wild, marking their first studio release with new guitarist Angelo Miles in the fold. It’s not a subtle reintroduction either, this thing lands heavy, thick riffs and all, staying faithful to the original while tightening the screws in that distinctly Skinlab way.
A nod to hardcore roots
Frontman Steev Esquivel didn’t hide where this one comes from (per Lambgoat):
‘Last Breath’ is one of those metal anthems that hits you in the chest every time. We’ve been Hatebreed fans from day one. Our boy Brett Makowski — Buzzard — turned us onto them on our first tour. We were instantly blown away by the pure aggression and energy. ‘Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire’ is one of the heaviest albums to this day. I’ve been wanting to do ‘Last Breath’ for years.
Skinlab ‘Last Breath’
That connection shows, this isn’t a band dipping into hardcore for the sake of it, it’s baked into their history, and the cover feels more like a full circle moment than a throwaway release.
A new chapter, same weight
Bringing Angelo Miles into the lineup could’ve shifted the dynamic, but if anything, this track doubles down on what Skinlab have always done best, the guitars stay dense and mechanical, the groove never lets up, and the whole thing carries that suffocating tension that’s defined their catalogue.
There’s also something telling about the timing, releasing a Hatebreed cover now doesn’t feel nostalgic, it feels like a reminder of where a lot of modern heavy music still pulls its backbone from.
Hatebreed ‘Last Breath’
Skinlab aren’t reinventing themselves, they’re reinforcing the foundation, and making it clear they’re still built for impact.
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