S Poddar
“It’s been a while since we’ve made a great album… Knowing that brought us to creating what is our best record so far.”
Skunk Anansie have officially revealed their new album, ‘The Painful Truth,’ just days after bassist Cass disclosed his stage 4 cancer fight.
The album, to be their seventh studio album and first in almost a decade, will be released on May 23 through FLG. Included among the tracks is their new single, ‘An Artist Is An Artist.’
A highly evocative and intense body of music, the new album captures the band at their artistic best while looking back on their long career.
“I don’t care that we were huge in the ’90s,” responded singer Skin. “Creatively, it doesn’t matter because in my rock bible the first commandment reads, ‘If thy rest on them laurels thy shall wither up and die artistically, musically, mentally. And then financially.'”
In Skin’s estimation, the album came into existence at a critical juncture when the band was considering calling it quits.
“If we didn’t try something new and innovative, then we couldn’t actually be a band anymore. We’d basically just be playing Skunk karaoke,” said the singer. “We’ve made some solid records over the years, but it’s a while since we’ve made an amazing album. And that’s the uncomfortable fact. Realizing that took us to creating what I really believe is our best record so far.”
Fans waiting to listen to the new tracks can pre-order ‘The Painful Truth’ today and listen to the single ‘Cheers’ below.
The album announcement comes after a heart-wrenching revelation by bassist Cass, who recently disclosed his fight with stage 4 cancer.
At 64, Cass disclosed that he had been undergoing intensive chemotherapy throughout the recording process. During a Q&A session at Dolby Atmos in London, he spoke about the emotional depth of the album and the personal struggles that shaped it.
“That’s what all the songs are about, that connects everything, that connects what we’ve been through over the last few years. It’s the connection with these guys,” he said.
He described the album’s themes as deeply personal, reflecting on life’s challenges and the reality of facing mortality. “What we’re going through, and everything, it’s quite emotional, it’s the painful truth. It’s what you’re here for, what’s important in your life, and what you’re going to do about it. That’s the painful truth,” he added.
Surprisingly, his bandmates were unaware of his diagnosis at the time of recording.
“I believed my cards had been marked, really, and so I was just. I was content with having had a good life, and I was very happy. I accepted whatever my destiny was,” Cass disclosed. “I wouldn’t think about the work, the record—I would think about my life. I’d had some very intense chemo sessions, and nobody knew nothing.”
With ‘The Painful Truth,’ Skunk Anansie translate their own experiences and creative vision into an album that not only encapsulates their legacy but also stands as a testament to strength, imagination, and the power of the human spirit.
