The Answer Machine?

The Answer Machine? is the eighth full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.

The album marks the peak of the folky sound from the group, with a bigger focus on traditional instruments and barely use of electric guitars.

This was also the group's last album as a quartet, with Steve Ramsey overdubbing all guitars, Paul A.T. Kinson as session drummer and with Mitch Oldham as session percussionist. Moreover, many guest musicians had been involved in this record, with Sasha Jankowic as narrator, Pete Coleman as flute-player (both on Troublesometimes), Yasmin Krull (sister of Alexander Krull from Atrocity) as female singer on The Thread of Evermore and with multi-instrumentalist John Leonard on pipes, whistles, accordion, banjo and additional vocals.

Critical reception

Metal Invader called the album satisfying and recommended the tracks "Helium", "Troublesometimes", and "My Naked I". They said the band has found a style that suits Martin Walkyier's vocal capabilities.