Hi! Welcome to Home Economics 1301. Today, boys and girls, we're going to concoct a unique, occasionally bizarre metal band by the name of Skindred. Hopefully, the final product will be delicious. Get your chef hat, get your spatula, get your blender, and let's go.

Mix in two quarts of the wild vocal antics of KoRN and Disturbed with two tablespoons of reggae. Add a dash of salt, a generous heap of pepper, and five cups of mozzarella cheese. Blend well. Put the final mixture in the oven for 30 minutes - lo and behold, Skindred is done. A little rough on the edges, you say? A little dry? What's that, little Jane? It's too cheesy? Ugh, I knew it. Gotta change up the recipe once I get around to it.

Judging by the fact that many elements of Skindred's sound (taste?) are similar to other bands, one may assume that they're disastrously unoriginal. Luckily, that isn't the case here. Skindred's sound is actually quite a distinctive one -- vocalist Benji Webbe can go from a Bugs Bunny-esque reggae whine to a full-on, aggressive metal growl within a matter of seconds.

His diverse vocals probably work more to the band's advantage than they're even aware of. Reggae fans flip on the radio, hear an energetic, bouncy Skindred song - and they're temporarily enraptured. Before they know it, they are introduced to something they're not entirely familiar with, and it's an exciting, unique experience. Many metal fans who are into stuff that rocks hard, yet still manages to keep a strong, light-hearted feel-good groove, have quickly cited this intriguing band as one to watch.

When Skindred gets things right, it's a beautiful thing. Take the hit single "Nobody" for instance. It's a fierce song that is perfect for initiating mosh pits. Benji's sharp vocal delivery in the reggae-tinged verses leads up to a vigorous chorus punctuated by his innate metal growls: "Nobody gets out of this here pit alive! / Nobody...nobody gets out alive!" It may not be the brainiest, most complex masterpiece of modern metal, but it's difficult to deny its sheer catchiness. "Babylon" is equally powerful. The guitar work is sharp, keeping the song's heaviness intact, and Benji's wildly fluctuating, charismatic vocal work is excellent.

Unapologetically loud songs like "Set It Off" and "Pressure" are infectious concert-favorites, and it's no surprise: they're both chock-full of booming basslines, hooky sing-alongs, and delightfully gruff vocals. Benji's scats are occasionally similar to those of Jonathan Davis - but get this: Benji sounds even more incomprehensible and demented. I personally love it, but I suppose it's an acquired taste. "Bruises" is a jarring listen that borders on brutal, and although musically, it's slightly less effective than its peers, its atmosphere is one that discourages hate and encourages unity. Yay, Skindred.

Unfortunately, much of the remainder of Skindred's offerings are dismal. "Tears" and "The Fear" tread a calmer path, which puts the highlight on Benji's softer vocal passages. I hesitate to say that he sounds entirely cringe-worthy, but I feel that Skindred is a band that is at its very best when providing a loud, incomprehensible, mindless blast of reggae-metal fun.

The closing track, the bland "The Beginning of Sorrows", occasionally offers decent lyrics ("Be not troubled, it's not the end yet") but it fails to maintain my interest for much over a minute. A hidden track pops up soon afterward, and it turns out to be an acoustic rendition of "Pressure". As much as I'd love for it to be a pleasant little surprise, it's anything but -- Skindred is not aurally pleasing in the acoustic setting, since their high-octane, vivacious energy is what accounts for 99% of their appeal.

All in all, I'm happy to say that Babylon is a decent metal album. Its stand-out songs justifies its purchase-worthy status, but the occasional filler that tends to rear its ugly head can be nauseating. Skindred's spontaneous, intense blends of reggae and metal will continue to turn the head of many-a-person, and their incredible live show will probably continue to convince broke 18-year-old college students to pick up their album (my subtle way of saying GO-SEE-THIS-BAND-LIVE-NOW). Skindred's energetic, idiosyncratic sound has earned them thousands of fans and it surely will continue to do so in the future.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out