4 Skins - A Fistful Of 4Skins

Review by David Solomon

A Fistful Of 4Skins: When Oi! Meets Raw Rock Energy Alright, so here’s the deal—A Fistful Of 4Skins is one of those albums that doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. Released in ’93 by the UK-based band 4 Skins (with some help from Italy), this record is pure Oi! at its core. If you’re into raw, unfiltered rock with a punk edge, this might just be your jam. The lineup’s solid: Roi Pearce on vocals, Paul Swain shredding guitar, Tom McCourt holding down bass duties, and Ian Davis keeping time on drums. And hey, props to producer O’Higgins for letting the grit shine through without over-polishing it. Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that really stuck with me after spinning this album a few times. First up, there’s “I’ll Stick To My Guns.” It’s like a punch in the face—in a good way. The energy’s insane, and Roi’s vocals are dripping with defiance. You can feel every word he spits out, especially when he belts, “No matter what they say, I won’t back down!” Honestly, it’s the kind of anthem you’d blast while storming into battle or maybe just yelling at your boss in your head. There’s no frills here, just straight-up attitude and killer riffs. This track alone makes the album worth a listen. Then there’s “5 More Years (Layabouts Anthem).” Man, this song hits different. It’s got this driving rhythm that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Between the pounding drums and the gang-style backing vocals, it feels like an entire pub full of people singing along. It’s catchy as hell but also kinda dark if you think about it too much. Like, yeah, it’s fun, but it’s also about being stuck in the same rut for five more years. Yikes. Still, it’s impossible not to nod your head to this one. The rest of the album keeps the momentum going with bangers like “Johnny Go Home” and “Betrayed,” which tackle everything from social issues to personal struggles. Oh, and shoutout to Tony Mottram for the photography and Nick Senecal for the layout—they gave the whole thing a vibe that matches the music perfectly. Props to labels like Captain Oi!, Radiation Reissues, and Syndicate Records for keeping this stuff alive. So, would I recommend A Fistful Of 4Skins? Absolutely. It’s not gonna win any Grammys, and honestly, it probably wasn’t trying to. But if you’re into music that feels real and unapologetic, this is gold. Here’s the kicker though—I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw they included two versions of “Five More Years” AND two versions of “I’ll Stick To My Guns.” Was it laziness? A happy accident? Either way, it kinda works. Maybe they were just messing with us. Whatever the case, it’s a reminder that sometimes imperfections make something even better. So grab a pint, crank this up, and enjoy the chaos.

Artist: 4 Skins
Album: A Fistful Of 4Skins

Rock

2013

Rating: 4.21

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Filename: 4-skins-a-fistful-of-4skins.zip

MP3 size: 61.2 mb
FLAC size: 819.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
No Excuse
Johnny Go Home
Waiting For A Friend
Saturday (Demo)
I'll Stick To My Guns
On The Streets
Forgotten Hero
Five More Years
The Gambler
H.M.P.
The Spy From Alaska
I’ll Stick To My Guns
New War
5 More Years (Layabouts Anthem)
Betrayed
City Boy
On File

Video

The 4 Skins - Waiting For A Friend

4 SKINS - I'LL STICK TO MY GUNS

The 4-skins - A Fistful of...4-skins - 1983 (Full album)

Forgotten Hero - 4 Skins

Images

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Catalog Numbers

RRS27
syn1
AHOY LP 8
AHOY CD 8

Labels

Radiation Reissues
Syndicate Records
Captain Oi!

Listen online

online luisteren
lytte på nettet
ouvir online
online anhören
kuunnella verkossa
escuchar en línea
écouter en ligne
ascolta in linea
lyssna på nätet

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
Reissue
CD

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	XVINYLX.COM
Pressed By	GZ Digital Media
Published By	Dorane Music
Mastered At	Utopia Studios
Licensed From	Link Music Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Captain Oi!

Credits

Role	Credit
Backing Vocals	Keith
Bass	Tom McCourt
Drums	Ian Bramson
Guitar	Paul Swain
Producer	O'Higgins
Vocals	Roi Pearce
Layout	Nick Senecal
Photography By	Tony Mottram

Notes

A7-A8: bonus tracks.
Pressing plant uncredited, identified by the matrix numbers.
Made in England

Barcodes

Barcode: 8592735001305
Matrix / Runout (Side A): 114023E1/A
Matrix / Runout (Side B): 114023E2/A
Matrix / Runout (Side A, etched): Ʊtopia 8̶N̶ SYN LP 1 A ee
Matrix / Runout (Side B, etched): SYN LP 1 B ee

About 4 Skins

UK Oi! band from London. Formed in 1979 and split in 1984. Reformed in 2008. Gary Hodges : Voice (79 / 81) Tony "Panther" Cummins : Voice (81 / 83) Roi "Millwall" Pearce : Voice (83 / 84) Tom "Hoxton" McCourt : Guitar (79 / 80) Steve "Rockabilly" Pear : Guitar (81) John Jacobs : Guitar (82 / 83) Paul Swain : Guitar (83 / 84) Steve "H" Harmer : Bass (79 / 80) Tom "Hoxton" McCourt : Bass (81 / 84) Gary Hitchcock : Drums (79 / 80) John Jacobs : Drums (81) Pete Abott : Drums (82 / 83) Ian Bramson : Drums (83 / 84)

Name Vars

4-Skins
4Skins
4skins
4Скинс
The 4 Skins
The 4-Skins
The 4Skins

Aliases

The Plastic Gangsters
JJ All Stars

Members

John Jacobs
Gary Hodges
Steve Pear
Gary Hitchcock
Roi Pearce
Paul Swain
Pete Abbot
Ian Davis
Tony Cummins
Steve Harmer
Sedge Swatton
Graham Bacon
Tom Brennan
Tom McCourt

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *A Fistful Of 4Skins* by 4 Skins is a raw slice of Oi! rock history. Released in 1993, it hit shelves in both the UK and Italy, carrying a gritty vibe that fans of the genre still love today. What makes it even more interesting? It includes two versions of "Five More Years"—one studio cut and one demo—showing how the band experimented with their sound. Plus, the track "Johnny Go Home" became an anthem for many. With killer credits like Producer O'Higgins and Photographer Tony Mottram, this album wasn’t just music; it was a full package of rebellion and artistry.