Left to right: Jennie Skulander, Tony "Nail" Vincent, in 2018 Left to right: Paul Martin, Nic Martin, in 2018
Devilskin is a four-piecealternative metal band fromHamilton, New Zealand, formed in June 2010. The band consists of lead vocalist Jennie Skulander, guitarist Tony "Nail" Vincent, bassistPaul Martin and drummer Nic Martin.[6]
Devilskin's debut album,We Rise was released on 11 July 2014 and peaked at #1 on theOfficial New Zealand Music Chart, and spent 47 weeks in the chart.[7][8] It wascertified Platinum byRecorded Music NZ in March 2015.[9] The band's sophomore album,Be Like the River, was released on 11 November 2016 and also peaked at #1.
Devilskin originated inHamilton, New Zealand in 2010.[6] Founding memberPaul Martin was going through bands that were sent to him to play on hisThe Axe Attack radio show and found a demo from a Rotorua band calledSlipping Tongue, with member Jennie Skulander on vocals. Martin bumped into Skulander inHamilton in 2010, moving there after the breakup ofSlipping Tongue. After much persistence from Martin, they both agreed to form a band, enlisting Nail Vincent fromChuganaut (one of Hamilton's leading hard rock bands) and local drummer, Rob McWhanell, to play drums for the band. After a few shows, Rob was involved in a motorcycle accident and need to have an operation,[10] forcing Martin to "press-gang" his son, Nic Martin, into temporarily replacing him. The band then decided to take on Nic as the full-time drummer.[11] With the band lineup settled, Vincent and Paul Martin solidified the Devilskin image by adopting their distinctive pink goatees.
Devilskin released 'Little Pills' onYouTube in 2012 to positive reviews, eventually getting second in the 2014The Rock 1000,[12] a countdown of the best 1000 rock songs as voted by listeners.
The writing of material forWe Rise occurred over a period of several years. The album was recorded within three weeks atYork Street Studios in Auckland. In May 2014, Devilskin released the single 'Start a Revolution', peaking at 28 on the NZ Singles Chart. Following this they released their debut album,We Rise debuting at number 1 on the national album chart in 2014, knockingEd Sheeran's X album off the top of the chart, and became the nation's biggest selling independent release of the year. By March 2015,We Rise went platinum, having sold over 15,000 copies, being the first NZ rock/metal album to do so sinceShihad'sKilljoy album 18 years prior.We Rise stayed in the national album Chart for 95 weeks from 2014 to 2016.
The band accompaniedWe Rise with the live CD/DVDLive At The Powerstation' which debuted at number 12 on the NZ Album Chart in December 2014 and stayed on the chart for eight weeks.[11]
After sold-out album tour for We Rise and an eight-date 'Summer Surrender' tour in late 2014, Devilskin went offshore to play a series of promotional gigs, where they attracted the attention of international record companies and festival organisers, where they played the iconicWhisky a Go Go. The band returned home after this tour, to record to release a follow-up singleMountains, recorded whilst they were over in England.[11] Following the supportingMountains and the Moon tour, the band went to England to finish fully recording their follow-up album,Be Like the River. The album's first single, "Pray" was released on 11 August 2016.[13] The full album was later released on 11 November 2016, and peaked at #1 on theOfficial New Zealand Music Chart, like its predecessor. To follow the album release, Devilskin went on a promotional tour, opening for acts such as Airbourne[14] and playing at festivals such as theDownload Festival.[15]
At the start of 2018, the band announced theirNew Year 2018 tour, with Skinny Hobos and Seas of Conflict as opening acts.[16] The band also played some new material throughout this concert.[17] On 28 June, Devilskin announced their New Zealand and European tours via theirFacebook page.[18] In an interview with Paul Martin, he said he would like to take some of the band's new material "on a road test", opening up the potential for new music from the band.[19] An interview with lead singer Jennie Skulander also confirmed this.[20]
On 7 September, Devilskin announced their new single "Endo". Skulander has stated the song is about her surgery for Stage 4endometriosis.[21][22] The song was also played throughout their NZ tour, along with some new material.[23] This was followed up with the release of "All Fall Down" on 5 April.[24]
On 17 January 2020 Devilskin announced the forthcoming release of their third albumRed,[25] along with a new single, "Corrode".[26] This was released to streaming platforms on 3 April 2020 with the plan to follow up with an appearance atHomegrown Music Festival and an international tour.[27] However, due to the impact of thecoronavirus pandemic in New Zealand this, along with physical disc copies, has been postponed.
