Top tracks — play these first
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This Is Our World — Opening with an anthemic chorus, this track sets the tone for the album's exploration of collective identity and societal struggles. Its driving rhythm encapsulates the urgency present throughout the record.
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A World on Fire — This track stands out with its vivid imagery depicting chaos and unrest, resonating deeply with contemporary global issues. The raw intensity of its instrumentation complements the lyrical urgency.
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Kings of the New World Order — With its confrontational lyrics, this song critiques modern power structures, making it one of the most politically charged pieces on the album. The energetic instrumentation underlines its rebellious spirit.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines energetic punk elements with relevant social commentary, though its cohesion suffers slightly.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high energy level, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter part.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response vocal patterns, emphasizing the communal aspect of punk rock.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo engagement
- anxiety-driven anthems for protest
- thoughtful reflections on society
- invigorating sing-along choruses
- ideal for communal listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek purely background music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- 'Burning Cities' marks Skids' return after a lengthy hiatus, being their first album since 'Peaceful Times' in 1984. At this point, the band aimed to reclaim their place in the contemporary punk scene while addressing modern societal issues through their music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Ruts· Buzzcocks· Stiff Little Fingers
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 This Is Our World 4:28
- 2 One Last Chance 3:11
- 3 Kaputt 3:55
- 4 A World on Fire 4:23
- 5 Burning Cities 3:45
- 6 Up on the Moors 3:33
- 7 Refugee 4:47
- 8 Subbotnik 3:04
- 9 Kings of the New World Order 4:02
- 10 Into the Void 2:39
- 11 Desert Dust 4:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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