Review: Sebastian Bach - Give 'Em Hell
[Frontiers; 2014]
Rating: 4/10
By Justin Silk, Staff Writer
Key Tracks: "Harmony," "Hell Inside My Head"
Sebastian Bach has tried hard over the past several years to live up to his musical legacy with Skid Row. Angel Down was a strong return for Bach after his small break from music, and Kicking and Screaming, released four years later, was also a noble effort even though it had a few problems.
Sebastian Bach’s journey of redemption has continued into 2014 with Give ‘Em Hell, a release that just doesn’t reach the heights of his last two records.
To put it bluntly, Give ‘Em Hell just doesn’t have any memorable songs. That’s not to say that the record’s songs are bad; in fact, about half of them are pretty good. However, nothing on the album really stands out, as the hooks just aren’t strong enough, and the songs that Bach clearly hoped would be hits fall way short of such glory.
“Temptation” seems like it is meant to be the album’s defining track. However, the song sounds totally dated, like a Skid Row song without any balls. The lyrics are clichéd and unoriginal, and as Bach performs the song he sounds like an old man trying to relive his wild youth. “Temptation” is a pathetic tune performed by someone who just doesn’t understand what is musically relevant in rock music anymore.
However, Give ‘Em Hell works as a nostalgic album for Bach’s older listeners. Some of them might even enjoy the record. As a whole, it does improve on some of Kicking and Screaming’s faults. For example, Bach sounds much less whiny on this album than on his previous record, and the songs are more diverse.
Yet that diversity doesn’t always work to Bach’s advantage. “Rock n Roll Is a Vicious Game” is basically a country song. The performances on the song are all solid, but the track is too much of a departure from the rest of the album. It won’t be well-received by many of Bach’s fans, even though it isn’t necessarily a bad tune.
One of the best parts about Give ‘Em Hell is the musical talent behind it. Several great musicians make appearances on the record, including Duff McKagan, the beloved previous bassist for Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver. These musicians almost make up for the absence of guitarist Nick Sterling, who added personality to Kicking and Screaming. It’s a shame he was fired, because he probably would have improved the album immensely.
Despite having a few decent songs like “Hell Inside My Head,” “Harmony” and “Disengaged,” Give ‘Em Hell struggles to be a relevant and captivating rock record. Songs like “All My Friends Are Dead,” “Temptation” and “Dominator” sound particularly dated, and will make listeners question their admiration for Bach.
Give ‘Em Hell’s few redeeming qualities just aren’t enough to justify giving the album a listen. The album is an added reminder that Skid Row is permanently dead, and that Bach’s glory days are far behind him.
