Torture Tunes

ALBUMS UNDER REVIEW

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

One singer in the late to early '90's has stood out as a voice you couldn't compare, Sebastian Bach is the voice. Going at it again with his 6th studio release "Give 'em Hell", he brings another grand example of hard rock. You get a heavy rhythm section, beefy guitars and a different approach to the vocals.

"Hell inside my head" kicks off the record and kicks you square below the belt. For me, the intro has a punk element and it's the hook from hell. You'll wanna find a fight for this one. Some grooviness happens in the tune "Harmony" and "All my friends are Dead" really hits you with emotion. I can relate to it all too well. "Temptation" is a vicious little animal, while "Push Away" sits you down for a spell. Just put your head "bach" and float away.

To bring you down to Earth in your easy chair the hard way is "Dominator". "Had Enough" takes the tempo down a bit. It's a tune of self-awareness admitting you were wrong and hoping for a second chance. Now that you're all feeling sorry and sad, "Gun to a Knife Fight" beefs things up again to get you off your butt and in the pit. "Rock N' Roll is a vicious Game" slows it way down. It's a mix of Every Rose has its Thorn, Patience and Dead or Alive. Bach to more up-beat stuff: "Taking back Tomorrow" has the ear splitting guitar attack and "Disengaged" brings down the walls. Wrapping things up is "Forget You" - a good way to end the record; very groovy and pumpin'.

Sebastian never fails to deliver. Every record is full of heaviness and soul. This record is no different. However, it feels like he's going after the old Vince Neil sound from Too fast for Love. The band is super - guitars for days and a tight knit rhythm section. Downside is the "fast song-slow song-fast song" game near the end. I would have arranged it a bit different, but hey, I'm nobody... And the high pitch vocals throughout made the songs sound the same. The song "Rock N' Roll is a vicious Game" didn't hit me like "All my Friends are Dead". Upside is Sebastian Bach's songwriting, band and power to pull you into his songs. His passion and drive is what makes every number a memorable one.

"Give 'em Hell" gives you hell, so I'll give it a 9.

Tim Duran, HMS

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