Sebastian Bach – "Child Within the Man"
You're probably not gonna believe this
Just getting two completely unrelated things outta the way up front:
- This has got to be one of the messiest album covers I've ever seen. Shit, even "Sergeant Pepper" and "Exile on Main Street" had cleaner compositions than this bundle of half-baked ideas.
- If you're a complete newbie, Sebastian Bach used to be the singer in this little band called Skid Row, after the departure from which, both parties have had a, shall we say, less favorable time apart than when they were together, both artistically and commercially.
While the Row did make a comeback of mind-blowing magnitude in 2022, I've never heard anything exhilarating outta their post-Bach era otherwise. Neither is this the case with the solo career of the Baz himself.
Perhaps inspired by his old band's comeback, then, it seems that the Baz, on his fourth solo album, endeavored to make the rowdiest record of his entire career. And holy shit, he may very well have succeeded.
As I'm listening to "(Hold On) To the Dream", taking notes, I find myself writing, "This is the heaviest and harshest thing he's ever done". And I am not using those words lightly: This is pure raw, concrete-sturdy half-time heavy metal with the attitude of cigarettes, whisky, motorcycles, and porn. And shit, then, during first single "What Do I Got To Lose?" (sic), the whole thing gets even heavier, the dragging, syncopated main riff virtually flipping off everything the Row ever did. And check out that brassy vocal break that seems to go on for just a little longer than it should. But the Baz is holding everything tight together, delivering one of the most powerful performances of his life. Again: I am not using these words lightly.
If the Baz keeps on touring his tits off with material like this, it would be a minor loss if the Row never reunited than if Guns n' Roses never had.
And then what? Yeah, I'll tell ya: Then "Hard Darkness" makes for a triple knockout combo, its feeling even heavier and more dragging, its riffing even dirtier and more rough, Baz' voice more intense and raw than ever. Again: I am not using these words lightly, you guys. I am in disbelief here. And to top it all off, those Major-key vocal harmony variations in the chorus are nothing short of perfect.
Much like on the latest, equally masterful album from Riot (subsequent "V" optional), much of the material on "Child Within the Man" gives off the impression that this is the very invention of pure heavy metal going on right here; as if this were the very crystallization and purification of those first six Black Sabbath LPs. It's all so very basic, but it's executed with the artistic vision and bravado of a mastermind who's out to kick as much ass as possible, and a blindingly professional team streamlining their collective effort in the name of metal itself.
Apart from the main man, the lineup here counts Slash bassist Todd Kerns, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, current Mötley Crüe and former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5, former Michael Schencker and Marty Friedman drummer Jeremy Colson, former Alice Cooper guitarist Orianthi, and former (... groan...) Avril Lavigne guitarist Devin Bronson. And I gotta give it up for the solos here, y'all. Had this record not been half as awesome as is the case, it's still worth checking out for its sheer amount of toxic face-melters.
This is pure raw, concrete-sturdy half-time heavy metal with the attitude of cigarettes, whisky, motorcycles, and porn.
... Okay, so it's not perfect. The chorus in "Future of Youth" is a bit too poppy, and even though the Baz is hella nailing those Major-key vocal harmonies, it doesn't amount to a lot when we're dealing with something that woulda been pure commercial radio station material if it hadn't been for one – albeit hella gnarly – intro and mid-section riff.
And also, as most records tend to go, things do become a bit less interesting towards the end. However, ending on a bit of a bang, the concluding "To Live Again" seems as though written for a 5-digit crowd to collectively pull out their lighters (not smartphones). Starting off as though we're entering midway in a late-80's Scorpions song, this is straddling the line between a power ballad and simply an equal parts slow and immense stadium hard rock anthem. We know all these clichés, and they're all here, crammed in to less than 5 minutes. But we love them.
The last time I saw and heard anything outta the Baz was in the, by the way, tremendous Dio documentary "Dreamers Never Die" in 2022, where he presents his favorite Dio performance – "Bible Black" from that majestic Heaven and Hell album (2009). Paraphrasing his comment, it's extraordinary to end your career at the top of your game like that.
Well, Dio got taken away from us at 67. At the time of writing this, the Baz is 56. And while I'm not expecting him to leave us anytime soon, I AM saying he's at the top of his game right here. And even though I'm still kinda dreaming about that Skid Row reunion, if the Baz keeps on touring his tits off with material like this, it would be a minor loss if the Row never reunited than if Guns n' Roses never had.
Rating: 5 out of 6
Genre: Heavy metal
Release date: 10/5/2024
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Producer: Michael "Elvis" Baskette