g'nr news

There has been a lot of anticipation for Sebastian Bach's 'Angel Down'. Skid Row's last album was 'Subhuman Race' from 1995. Bach's last solo album was 'Bach 2: Basics' in 2001.

I can tell you that without a doubt, the wait will be worthwhile. 'Angel Down' is the metal album of the year, if not the 21st Century so far.

This has been my high rotation record for the weekend.

What makes the record even more newsworthy is the appearance of Axl Rose on three of the tracks. When you hear them, you will wonder, like the rest of the world, why Guns 'n' Roses 'Chinese Democracy' has still not been released.

Axl is switched on big time on 'Angel Down'. If he is this hot on Bach's album, I cannot wait to hear 'Chinese Democracy'. The release of 'Angel Down' might just be what Axl needs to get the confidence to release his long-awaited album. This is the album you want 'Chinese Democracy' to be. (Incidentally, Bach recorded backing vocals on one of the tracks from 'Chinese Democracy').

'Back In The Saddle' is the first of three songs (in a row) with Axl Rose. What a corker of a cover. This is the old Aerosmith song. Aerosmith meets Guns 'n' Roses meets Skid Row – metal heaven. Bach only sings the first new lines on this one. The lead vocal is Axl.

'(Love Is) A Bitchslap' is the one they chose as the single. Co-written with producer Roy Z., it is another rocker with a hook. "I'm just having a goodtime" Bach and Rose sing on this one. That just about sums up the entire album.

'Stuck Inside' is again with Axl. We are getting to the heart of this album and this is one hell of a beating heart. In fact, the four-play of 'Stuck Inside', 'American Metalhead', 'Negative Light' and 'Live & Die' are the heaviest tracks on the album. 'American Metalhead' slaps those winey little punk wannabes across the face. 'Negative Light' gets dark and moody but builds to rival Metallica. 'Live & Die' doesn't waste a second. It burns from the first note.