Skid Row
Subhuman Race

THE REVIEW

After two semi-hard rock masterpieces like the self-titled debut and "Slave to the Grind", Skid Row hire Bob Rock and transform. This is evident from the very first notes of the album: "My enemy" hits like a punch in the teeth and it’s hard even to recognize the band. Once you manage to get into the mindset of the new sound, the album can definitely be appreciated: "Firesign", the title track, "Medicine jar", "Iron will", "Frozen" surprise with their hardness, "Bonehead" is almost a punk track, and the ballads (always Skid Row's ace in the hole) "Eileen", "Into another" and especially the single "Breakin down", are tracks on which our guys move along familiar and tested paths.

Sebastian Bach has been restrained by Bob Rock (he himself declared that arguments were abundant during the recording sessions), and the fast and hard tempos leave little room for the usual vocalizations we’ve grown accustomed to, but his performance remains absolutely above average, as does that of the band, despite venturing into territory in which they don’t naturally thrive.

The tracklist is skillfully assembled and ensures that the album flows pleasantly, alternating punk-hardcore-like bursts with other equally heavy but measured ones, without neglecting, of course, the ballads. It’s a shame that this is the last chapter of Skid with Sebastian, given that the careers of both have gone poorly, or at least well below their usual standards.

This is an album that has more detractors than admirers, and that has made those who have always loved Skid Row in their hard rock version frown, but I have always liked it. If you're only looking for an album in line with the first two records, you might as well not even listen to it, but if you're willing to take a risk, do it.

Great Skid! 

Must listen: "Breakin down", "My enemy", "Iron will"
Skip song "Remains to be seen"