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Rating: Uh-oh! We have been told that this review also appears (in whole or in part) on truemetal.it
Formed in 1986 by bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo (ex Bon Jovi), Skid Row debuted three years later with the extraordinary self-titled CD, after completing the lineup with Scotti Hill (guitar), Rob Affuso (drums), and Sebastian Bach (vocals). The material composed for the occasion embodies the most typical pop-metal around, with a great glam attitude and a rockstar personality that our guys immediately and assertively displayed.
Among the "hair-bands" of the time, perhaps Skid Row were the ones who achieved true commercial success, evidenced by the many platinum records won over the years. The typically hard rock lyrics (there's something for everyone, from the rebellious teenager in "18 And Life" to the romantic melancholy of "I Remember You", from the hippie outbursts in "Sweet Little Sister" to the sociological analysis of the underworld in "Youth Gone Wild") are simply a tool to characterize the band's unique sound, made of rage, aggressiveness, and energy.
Of course, the true talent is unmistakable in Sebastian Bach's voice, which embodies all the ingredients necessary for creating a perfect musical machine. His piercing, nasal timbre, combined with his sometimes mischievous interpretation and undeniable sex appeal, immediately made him a teen idol (too young to handle the situation) for girls, and, consequently, for all hard rock fans. As if that weren't enough, the metal references are much more than present: in "Big Guns" and "Can't Stand The Heartache", the riffs hit like boulders, while "Piece Of Me" could easily appear on a W.A.S.P. album; as if that weren't enough, the infectious choruses in their earworm form leave no room for hesitation, and each piece is a pounding anthem whose impact devastates without compromise.
It likely represents the highest point reached by Skid Row in their career, the classic bolt from the blue that awarded them cult status overnight and, probably, marked the beginning of their creative decline: the band was too immature to handle the importance the public was giving them, and Sebastian himself couldn't set aside his continuous whims. In hindsight, after many years from that thunderous debut, we could list a whole series of criticisms, starting with the lack of diversity in the pieces - because many refrains really seem copied and pasted - but who would care?
What remains is a fundamental record, a cult that should be in every true hard rock and much of metal collection that deserves respect.
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