Skid Row – The Gang’s All Here Review

Erik can hit any of the notes that Bach could in his heyday, but the purpose remains the same. They are out here with new music and coming together...

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Release: 14 October 2022

Links: https://www.skidrow.com/

 

Line Up:

Erik Grönwall – Vocals
Snake Sabo – Guitars
Scotti Hill – Guitars
Rachel Bolan – Bass
Rob Hammersmith – Drums

 

Tracklist:

“Hell or High Water”
“The Gang’s All Here”
“Not Dead Yet”
“Time Bomb”
“Resurrected”
“Nowhere Fast”
“When the Lights Come On”
“Tear It Down”
“October’s Song”
“World’s on Fire”

 

The trials and Tribulations of former H.E.A.T singer Erik Grönwall have been well documented lately. From his health battle with acute lymphocytic leukemia to undergoing weeks of treatment at the hospital to landing the gig with Skid Row to garnering critical praises (not to anybody’s surprise, given his talent). It has been quite a whirlwind for Erik as he has been touring relentlessly now with Skid Row in support of their new record “The Gang’s All Here”.

This album is a culmination of sort of getting back to basics for Skid, a band that has undergone many challenges in the past with the very beloved and former frontman Sebastian Bach, and the sentimental attachments that many fans have to the singer. And rightfully so, we become attached to the voices that made these songs what they are and influenced generations of Rockers. But time and time again we have seen the way some of these iconic bands have come back, by popular demand and brought aboard new signer, very capable of singing the old stuff, yet infusing new life into new music.

It’s simple people, you want your band to stick around and still make music? Sure it just may not be with that singer or that guitar player that once was. Skid Row has moved on, all parties have moved on, and the split with Bach happened in 1996, that’s all she wrote folks.

Welcome to Grönwall the crazy swede, for outlets like us who cover so much music, it comes as no surprise how much of a fit he is, and why he is the perfect guy for the job. Super strong vocals and range, a charismatic guy, with plenty of “Yough Gone Wild” in him to do the old songs justice, but not sound like a clone of Mr. Bach himself. At the same time, you have a young singer who is capable of bringing a collaborative vibe and work ethic into a veteran band and helping them make new vibrant Rock music again. And judging from the debut here, all gears have been turned up a notch and the new Skid Row is ready to embark on a new revival of a journey.

The Opener “Hell Or High Water” is the most Skid Row on the record I think, perfect intro, peak, and staple guitar madness you come to expect from old-school Skid fans. Erik soars here and the guys all take you back to the 80s with this burner of a tune. Easily the best song on the album.

Chunky bass in “Time Bomb” stands out as Bolan provides a nice stop-and-go rhythm that amplifies the song to Erik’s gritty vocals. The sharp guitars in “Resurrected” come flying at you with what harkens back to the early days of Skid Row. The rhythm here is very noticeable, and the chorus is a strong one, the same goes for Rob Hammersmith’s patented Skid drumming. This tune has guitars screaming all over with a great job provided by Snake Sabo and Scotti Hill. The album title track has its moments of glory too, as the twin guitars have some keen moments, the punkish-inspired choruses let loose and Erik just keeps doing what he does. “Tear It Down” has attitude blazing all over, with a top-notch chorus and top heavy riffage, another song that stands out with slick appeal.

End of the day you; get a band that needed a big-time revival and a transfusion of new blood, which is exactly what Grönwall has provided. And I have to say covering the guys live a few months ago, you felt the energy in the band, the attitude, the newfound purpose to play live. Yes new songs sound great, but you also get a competent singer who is not trying to be something he is not, Erik can hit any of the notes that Bach could in his heyday, but the purpose remains the same. They are out here with new music and coming together as a band to birth The Gang’s All Here. A collaborative effort that shows in its final product.

My best advice is to go into this one with no expectations of days gone by, no pun intended… this is the new Skid Row in 2022. Give the songs a chance, don’t compare things to music that once was a really long time ago. It’s hard for longtime fans to not do this, but if you give the album a chance based on the new influx of energy and the overall body of work, you will find many outstanding songs that can pedestal the band into the limelight as they enter the twilight of their career.

 

 

Written by: Shadow Editor

Rating  8/10

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