Life in Skid Row hasn’t been the same since they parted ways with singer Sebastian Bach (and drummer Rob Affuso) back in 1996. Fact is the band’s popularity had started to fade already when they released Subhuman Race in 1995 but then again, that happened to all Hard Rock and Metal bands when Grunge reared its ugly head in the 90’s. After a short hiatus, Skid Row reformed in 1999 with singer Johnny Solinger and released two very underwhelming albums – Thickskin (2003) and Reveolutions Per Minute (2006) – followed by the E.P’s United World Rebellion 1 and 2 which were way better before Solinger left/was fired in 2015. Solinger died of liver failure back in 2021. Skid Row hired former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell the same day Solinger left but he only lasted eight months. Harnell was replaced by former Dragonforce singer ZP Theart in 2016 and was in the band until 2022 when they parted ways and Skid Row hired singer Erik Grönwall, formerly of Swedish melodic rockers H.E.A.T.
Grönwall’s life had taken a bumpy ride prior to his joining of Skid Row too. Erik – a former Swedish Idol winner that auditioned with Skid Row’s “18 And Life” in 2007 – had released two mediocre solo albums in the wake of Idol and joined H.E.A.T in 2012 with whom he released four brilliant records with the band before he left in late 2020 to pursuit other non-musical businesses. Then leukemia hit. There and then Erik decided that if he managed to kick the disease he would focus on what he loved most – music. He did kick it, recorded an album with a project called New Horizon with his former H.E.A.T buddy Jona Tee and then Rachel Bolan called. Boom! Erik was now the singer/frontman in one of his favorite bands. How’s that for a Cinderella story, huh?
Opener “Hell Or High Water” tells us that writers Bolan and Dave “Snake” Sabo has finally embraced what made them huge in the first place and gone back in that direction. It’s a classic Skid Row belter, like a bastard child of “Monkey Business” and “Livin’ On A Chain Gang”. It’s a ballsy rocker with a raunchy and raging yet delicate riff and a powerhouse rhythm and Grönwall sure proves he’s the right guy for the band. The chorus is a punch in the gut with intense catchiness, just like we love ’em. Brilliant. The title-track and first single is an edgy rocker that kicks up dust all the way through. It’s a punky yet melodic metal-kicker in a faster pace with a repetitive chorus that sticks right from go, perfect for the stage. Is the gan all here? Well, this gang sure is. Good stuff indeed.
“Not Dead Yet” is a firey and frantic Metal blaster in a fast tempo that holds some punky vibes and an old school Skid Row spirit. It’s hard, edgy and punchy with strikingly direct melodies over a punch-in-the-gut rhythm. It’s riffy and raw but the chorus is damn catchy. Bolan might have written the lyrics here but with Grönwall’s past in mind, he sure made them his. Great. The single “Time Bomb” is one ballsy and gritty puncher, powerful and kicking with lots of attitude. It’s heavy, menacing and headbang-friendly with a distinct groove. Sparking and rough guitars over a stone-hard rhythm section with glueing melodies and a monster chorus makes this a winner. Some might have issues with the whole “tick tick tick” thing but it doesn’t bother me the least. Awesome track.
“Resurrected” is a raunchy and chunky Hard Rock number that lands somewhere between “Mudkicker” and “Creepshow” albeit with a bit faster tempo. It holds a gritty riff, very classic Skid Row, it’s aggressive yet quite melodic with a sharp hook and the chorus contrasts with some damn fierce vocals by Grönwall and a direct and catchy melody. Very good. The straight ahead “Nowhere Fast” is both heavy and bouncy with headbang groovy verses and a strike-hard rhythm. It’s a metal-fueled number where the chorus slows things down a bit and takes a darker path but with a prominent melody hook. It’s a good song but the chorus doesn’t really take off and the verses are stronger.
“When The Lights Go Down” comes across as a mixture of “Piece Of Me” and “Big Guns” from the debut album. The whole style of this crunchy, attitude laden number takes a good hard look back to said debut. It’s an energetic, smouldering rocker with vigour and power – a real kidney punch. I really like this one even though the verses are stronger than the chorus. Second single “Tear It Down” is a damn catchy rocker. It’s groovy Hard Rock we get here carried by a contagious beat with infectious melodies all the way through and a pop-flirting chorus with gang vocals that screams classic Skid Row and will be perfect for the stage. It’s a metal-tinted Arena Rock tune with a “Youth Gone Wild” sort of attitude. This is brilliant.
It’s ballad time when “October’s Song” comes around but the guys hasn’t made it easy for themselves and recorded yet another “I Remember You”/”18 And Life” kind of tune. It’s more of a darker semi-ballad with slight progressive undertones. It’s a seven minute melancholic and dynamic tune that changes structure here and there with great harmonies and backing vocals and darkening emotions all over. A far-away cousin to “Quicksand Jesus” and “In A Darkened Room” if you need something to compare it with. Still, it doesn’t sound like neither. The album closes with “World On Fire” a heavy and raw bone-crusher, kicking and screaming and made of raw power. That said, the melodies doesn’t really stick with me and even though I dig the in-your-face and gritty attude, I still find it the album’s weakest track. It’s still ok, though.
Skid Row is back. With a vengeance. Sure, the guys will have to put up with all the “no Skid Row without Bach” and “cover band” stupidity. I guess some people just don’t have a clue what a cover band or tribute band is. This record is not only the best album Skid Row has done since Slave To The Grind (1991), it’s also the natural follow-up to that record sound wise even though Subhuman Race (1995) sure had its moments. Producer Nick Raskulinecz, apparently an old Skid Row fan, has made sure to take them back on the route Michael Wagener once put them on sound wise and Bolan and Sabo has finally understood in what direction their songs should go in. As for Erik Grönwall, he’s perfect for this band. We who know him from H.E.A.T know that he’s an amazing singer and now he’s shown that he can do Skid Row justice – at times he’s reminiscent to Bach but never a clone. I can’t wait to hear the next record when he’ll be involved from the start. Welcome back guys.
8/10
More Skid Row reviews:
United World Rebellion: Chapter One
Rise Of The Damnation Army – United World Rebellion: Chapter 2
Tracklist:
1. Hell Or High Water
2. The Gang’s All Here
3. Not Dead Yet
4. Time Bomb
5. Resurrected
6. Nowhere Fast
7. When The Lights Go Down
8. Tear It Down
9. October’s Song
10. World On Fire
CD & Festival reviews 