Sebastian Bach – Angel Down (2007)
Former Skid Row singer, Sebastian Bach blazes the comeback trail with his first new album since his collaboration on the Frameshift disc from 2005.
Not only is this an exciting return for Bach, but it is also one for Axl Rose. This disc features 3 songs with Guns ‘N Roses frontman. These are the first new tunes available (bootlegs don’t count) with Axl Rose since his work with Alice Cooper on the 1999 Box Set, The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper.
When Bach’s first mainstream success in 1989 with the first Skid Row album, there was no doubt that they were part of the whole Glam Metal scene. With Skid Row’s 2nd release, Slave To The Grind, they moved toward a more heavy metal sound. In my opinion, Angel Down carries on where Slave to the Grind left off.
Why mention this during Glam Month? This glam metal star has crafted what is possibly the best hard rock record of 2007. Bach has brought in some pretty good players for this record, including Metal Mike Chlasciak, and Bobby Jarzombek from Halford. I have had the pleasure of seeing Chlasciak play live, and his is one hell of a guitar shredder. Jarzombek and his pounding double bass drums is his equal on the drums. The band is rounded out by former Iced Earth bassist Steve DiGiorgio and Johnny Chromatic on guitar.
Roy Z. produced this disc, and like most recordings he touches, Angel Down is a well produced, great sounding disc from beginning to end.
Most of the tracks on Angel Down, were written by Sebastian Bach, but he did have a little help from Roy Z, Axl Rose and Desmond Child. Most importantly, his bandmates wrote a lot of the music. This wasn’t a bunch of hired hands playing Sebastian’s music. This was a complete band output.
Sebastian Bach has been a fan favorite of several years now. Those of you that thought Bach couldn’t sing anymore, are about to be proved wrong in a major way. Bach’s voice soars on this disc. Everything from the screams to the higher pitched songs, he does it all, and does it quite well.
Not every song on Angel Down is perfect, but it is one of the best classic metal discs to be released not only in 2007, but quite possibly this decade. This record has some extremely heavy numbers with tracks like American Metalhead and Negative Light. It also has a couple of tracks Falling Into You, and By Your Side that could have been at home on the first Skid Row record. It is going to be quite hard for me to listen to anything else for a while after hearing this record. This is a fucking great record, and it will be near the top of my best of list at the end of 2007. I can only hope that Bach will put out more quality releases like Angel Down in the future.
Do yourself a favor and go buy this record today!
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1 Angel Down
2 You Don’t Understand
3 Back in the Saddle
4 (Love Is) A Bitchslap
5 Stuck Inside
6 American Metalhead
7 Negative Light
8 Live & Die
9 By Your Side
10 Our Love Is a Lie
11 Take You Down with Me
12 Stabbin’ Daggers
13 You Bring Me Down
14 Falling into You
Sebastian Bach band is:
Sebastian Bach – Vocals
Mike Chlasciak – Guitars
Bobby Jarzombek – Drums
Steve DiGiorgio – Bass
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Hard Rock Hideout 
This cd blows anything away that Skid Row has ever done even with Bach. Back in the Saddle is the weakest track and it still rocks. This is hands-down the best work of 2008.
the album would have to be the best I have heard in recent memory. Hard and heavy with songs that can mash your innards. Too cool!
axl and slash on life and crimes is actually from a song that was recorded almost 10 years before that for the decline of western civilization movie. Wasn’t it? I believe it was “under my wheels.” Either way – i’m looking forward to grabbing this new bach disc even though I’d rather it sound like the first skid row album rather than slave to the grind.
It is heavy and it’s certainly good. Makes me wish he would do albums more often.
This is a cd that we will be putting in the library!
And at least he hasn’t pulled the JBJovi haircut/sellout stunt….
Thank All That Is Rock
I heard the sound samples for the whole disc and I like it. Say what you like about Axl but I’ve always loved his voice and Seb’s as well. perfect combination of power vocals! sounds good
I think you will be Jason. It is HEAVY!
I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. I’m not expecting much, so hopefully I will be surprised.
This CD is amazing, don’t care about Axl, think about Baz work… is just pure heavy metal… forever
I have yet to hear this one, but everything I read is positive. I’m not surprised that he’s put out a good album though.