Sebastian Bach became widely known as the vocalist for the hard rock group Skid Row . Having achieved great success in the late 1980s, the musician has not been part of the band for some time, releasing solo work over the years.
In 2024, after ten years without a release, Bach returned with Child Within The Man , a record that exceeded expectations. Although his solo discography includes some good tracks, they are not many, and here we could perceive a more solid and consistent work.
Featuring guest appearances by John 5 , Steve Stevens , and Orianthi , the vocalist was responsible for writing or co-writing all the songs on the album.
The album kicks off with full power and speed with the track "Everybody Bleeds," featuring striking guitar riffs and Bach's precise and sharp vocals, perfectly timed without sounding shrill or distorted.
The harmonies created are also a highlight, especially when the vocalist opts for a deeper sound.
The same great groove observed in the album's first track can be seen in the second, with elements quite characteristic of what made Skid Row famous, especially in the first part of it.
The opening moments of “(Hold On) To The Dream” give the impression that it will be a ballad, but after the introduction, it becomes clear otherwise, in yet another powerful performance, with Bach delivering heavy vocals.
“What Do I Got To Lose?” has one of the most easily absorbed and memorable choruses, and the entire track is composed in a way that creates this atmosphere.
Even with only a few songs heard, it's already clear that Child Within The Man is the best solo work of Sebastian Bach's career, not only in terms of vocals, but also in terms of the compositions themselves, which are better structured and performed.
Another point is how melodic these tracks sound. By bringing in different elements, the artist managed to maintain the concept of a hard rock album, but still keep it heavy and present.
“Hard Darkness” is the perfect example of this. Featuring screamed and raspy vocals, already quite characteristic of the artist, they contrast with more melodic, yet still powerful, parts.
The low notes he uses at the beginning of "Future Of Youth" are welcome, but when he goes into the high notes, his voice sounds somewhat strange, quite nasal.
Without many standout tracks, "Vendetta," "FU," and "Crucify Me"—the latter two being quite similar—precede "About To Break," which alternates between more energetic and calmer moments.
Concluding Sebastian Bach's latest work, "To Live Again" features a guitar riff that creates an epic atmosphere, relating very well to the end of a film, almost as a parallel since it's the album's finale. The entire song is composed in a way that conveys this impression of something coming to an end, and Child Within The Man has a fitting conclusion.
Although some songs are similar to each other, a significant improvement can be seen when compared to the vocalist's earlier work.
The backing band plays an important role in this, in addition to the special guest appearances. Featuring Devin Bronson on guitar, Todd Kerns on bass, and Jeremy Colson on drums, the recording becomes much more solid and tangible, especially due to the well-crafted way it's done.
Another point to highlight is Bach's voice. Here, his vocals sound very good, precise and sharp, even if the same doesn't happen live.
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