Annabelle's Curse - Worn Out Skin (2015)

Worn Out Skin is the newest album from Annabelle’s Curse, a transcendent, genre-busting five-piece band that deftly sways from haunting and ethereal melody to unflinching and unforgettable rhythm and riffs.
Like a sweet drink of rare whiskey, or that last delicious bite, Annabelle’s Curse entices listeners to gorge on a sound that can neither be wholly defined nor completely categorized.
Musically and lyrically, Annabelle’s Curse draws from unyielding roots in Bristol, Virginia. The lyrics — sometimes haunting, sometimes hopeful — are consistently eloquent and evocative, rare and irresistible.
On “Rich Valley” an ode to the band’s home, Tim Kilbourne’s and Carly Booher’s sweet, soulful vocals take listeners there — to that place, to those rolling hills, that peaceful river and the cool mountain air. Enticing harmonies punctuate the song, and Booher’s mandolin, ever-present here, provides an element of bluegrass that drives the story, which the band tells with technical precision.
Kilbourne, who plays guitar and does much of the writing, started Annabelle’s Curse with Zack Edwards, a high-energy guitarist who plays with such alacrity he developed a well-earned reputation for breaking strings. Travis Goyette and Tyler Luttrell bring the rhythm, artfully playing the drums and bass, respectively.