Dansk version

Sebastian Bach can be forgiven for being a tad tired of living in the shadow of the body of work he did with former band Skid Row over two decades ago.

But that band and especially their two first albums, "Skid Row" (1989) and the masterful "Slave To The Grind", are a hard act to follow. Frankly; Sebastian has not done anything since then that could be favorably compared to his Skid Row heyday.

Until now that is! Bach's new and fifth solo album "Give ‘Em Hell" finally lets him leave the shadows of his former band with his head held high. Even if – despite the title – all hell isn't lose all the way, "Give ..." is a very good hard rock/ Heavy Metal album. Stylistically anchored somewhere between Skid Row and Halford/ Judas Priest with a pinch of vintage Alice In Chains thrown in during the moodier moments.

With a little help ...
As far as musicians go, Sebastian gets help from quite an impressive array of friends like guitarists Devin Bronson (Pink, Avril Lavigne), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie) while Duff McKagan (Guns N'Roses, Velvet Revolver) contributes bass and Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Riot) beats the drums.

Bach himself outdoes himself vocally. Not least on Steve Stevens' brilliant semi ballad "Push Away", that sees Bach breathing life, soul and immense insistency into the song on a level that I honestly didn't believe he was capable of reaching. Of course Stevens himself follows Bach's eminent effort with a guitar solo to match.

All right then, "Push Away" IS the best song on the album even if another semi ballad "Had Enough" (also written by Stevens) comes close.

As a whole most of this album will not disappoint Bach's battalion of admirers though.

From raging riff rockers "Hell Inside My Head", "Temptation" and "Harmony" (the last of which can hold a candle to Skid Row's finest moments) through the monumental "All My Friends Are Dead" to a surprisingly heartfelt and beautiful version of April Wine's "Rock N'Roll Is A Vicious Game",  "Give 'Em Hell" is easily Bach's best solo effort so far.

It may not be on the same level as "Slave To The Grind" but we really don't have the right to expect that ...