Angel Down

In case you're curious, the title came from something Sebastian Bach said when I saw him live about a month ago, and for whatever reason I thought it was funny. Solo careers can be a pot of gold or a pot of garbage depending on two things. The direction they take, and the expectations that the fans set, usually based off of their previous band's work. Since this didn't drop 'til 2007, the latter of the two shouldn't seem too relevant. Being a well known figure in the metal scene by this point, the time has allowed Sebastian to take all sorts of influences to create a whole new slate and start from scratch. Taking the tactics of hard rock of the time, blending them with classic heavy metal songwriting, and adding in an Aerosmith cover (Back In The Saddle) as well as handing the mic to Axl with some guest vocals, there's a lot to get from Angel Down.

Tone wise, there is a total shock-wave of harshness that sears through the speakers upon spinning this disc. The guitars are dropped very low, and tuned to create an atmosphere of dirty output. The minor keys don't hold back, and flood this beast with sharp beats and hefty riffs. These modern alterations mix very well with the classic style of writing, which doesn't always work. In this case, it does. Songs such as "Live And Die" display deep, distorted riffs that pierce the air mixed with a catchy chorus and versus that have the retro and melodic feel to them. Other tracks, such as the title track, or "American Metalhead" are absolutely crushing the whole way and stick to the neck-punching force that gives this record such a harsh appeal. And yes, of course there are softer moments too. With his history of writing killer ballads, "By Your Side" makes for a beautiful number that lays on acoustic guitars and clean singing just like the legend himself is known for doing. So musically, Angel Down has got it all. The only drawbacks are the screechy and noisy solos that make a few appearances too many; see the title track for an example of this. Not that there isn't any good soloing, but there's definitely some bad.

Sebastian has always been one of my favorite singers of all time, and the range that he is capable of is showcased all over this release. Being over fifty minutes in length, he's got the time. The previously mentioned ballad "By Your Side" throws back to the harmonic cleans that almost bring on goosebumps. Melodic yet powerful outbursts take the majority of the limelight here, but what really breaks through as unique is the way the man can scream. Intense shrieks held for long notes and backing effects create an extra layer of crispness. And when I say holding those notes, I mean it. Man does he have a set of lungs! Vocally and musically, hints of grunge influence come through, which is also due to being there for that outbreak and living it himself. "Our Love Is A Lie" definitely allows this to shine through a lot. As expected, he pulls it off.

All in all, if you go into this expecting a Skid Row clone with different people, prepare to be disappointed. There are hints of it, but it hones in more on the later heavy metal and hard rock templates. This was a very experimental move, and a risk as well, but it worked. Sebastian has always been a phenomenal front-man who can tackle all sorts of styles. Rather being a washed up '80s star, he still goes strong. He did a cover of Motley Crue's "Shout At The Devil" when I saw him, and damn if they ever reunite, they should kick Vince out and use him instead. Somewhat getting offtrack, but that just shows that he's still got the vocal chords, even ten years after this album.