Alblum Review: Sebastian Bach - Child Within The Man

It's hard to talk about Sebastian Bach without mentioning the constant talk about a reunion between him and Skid Row, mostly because he won't shut up about it. He has spent at least a decade trying to guilt the band into bringing him back, which I could say is all about money, but I think Bach's solo career makes it clear it's more about him not really wanting to make new music anymore. His solo output has been sporadic at best, and he spends more time talking about is past than his present, so it's not hard to see all of this as something he has to do while biding time for what he really wants.

Just look at the cover of this album. Does that not tell you how little effort was put into making this? Bach wants to think he's still cool at his age, but that drawing is so horrible it would have been too cheesy even in the 80s. Oh, and let's not forget that he's also drawn as being at least three decades younger than he actually is. Perhaps reminding us so forceful of his man-child reputation isn't a good starting point.

The people Bach has chosen to work with continue his trend of making records that try to be heavier than Bach needs to be. His voice has always been rather high and thin, and going in the heavier direction only serves to highlight the limitations of that tone. He feels the need to go into rougher textures and even screaming at times, which either tells me he doesn't believe he can sell these songs with his natural voice, or he doesn't believe he has enough voice left to do it. Either way, hearing a once great singer screaming his head off is not a sign of quality.

This album comes down along the same lines as his other solo work; it's heavy rock that is supposed to impress up by being the heaviest thing he's ever done, but the songs aren't that great, and we all know in advance Bach is going to leave this behind once it's out. He isn't going to be flying the flag for this album for the next couple of years. It's something that reminds us he's still out there, and hopefully pushes a few more fans to bring his name up each time the slot in Skid Row comes open again.

Personally, I don't have a dog in that fight, but I do find it amazing how often the talk turns to how much money a tour would generate, with almost no one seeming to care that the rest of the band would be utterly miserable (by their own admission) to have to spend that much time with Bach. Shouldn't fans have more sympathy for what would make the band happy? I digress.

This record is firmly in the 'meh' pile. There are a few good moments, but I don't know if I would say any of the songs are great. It isn't a miserable experience, but it's also not anything I'm going to want to come back to. The main reason for that is actually Bach, whose voice grates on my nerves. Age has narrowed his tone, making it more shrill than ever, and I don't find it a pleasant sound at all. It almost sounds like he's whining half of these songs, and much like Chris Jericho in Fozzy, I simply don't want to listen to that for more than a few minutes at a time.

Bach may have been a great singer at one point, but time has not been kind to him. His voice is not pleasing, the attitude he takes on the record isn't engaging, and yes, I've never seen an interview with him where I thought he was actually cool.

I'll finish by saying this; if Sebastian and Skid Row ever did get back together, this record tells me it wouldn't be what anyone wants. Bach now is not a better singer than the last two who have filled that spot, so we just have to ask if nostalgia is really worth all this talk. Personally, it's so short-lived I don't see the point. I'll be kind and not say that about this record too.