Reviewer's Rating: 4 stars out of 5
So, Meat Loaf had already done the sequel with Back Into Hell, so now there’s what, a trilogy?
The thing is, the original Bat Out of Hell was released in 1976. Wow. Where’d 30 years go already? A lot of folks out there may really only associate Meat Loaf with the first one, but he really did release a second and now a third. But did you know that in between #1 and #3 he’s appeared in almost 20 movies, including Black Dog, Fight Club, Roadie, Leap Of Faith, Wayne’s World and many more?
He has also released no less than eight other non-Bat albums. Of course, everyone ties Meat Loaf with Jim Steinman, who’s written the songs you probably know best. Possibly the fact that Meat Loaf didn’t always go with Steinman on every album may be why you never heard much more of him. Seriously, though, check out Dead Ringer, Bad Attitude, Welcome to the Neighborhood and Couldn’t Have Said It Better. A real die hard Meat Loaf fan would probably say buy ‘em all!
Anyway, if you’re reading this you’ve either already got Bat Out of Hell III - The Monster Is Loose and want to see what someone else thinks or you’re considering buying it, right?
But Does It Rock?
Rockers have always it seems had a soft spot for Meat Loaf, but some rockers don’t take him seriously. If you like the old stuff, the opening title track, The Monster Is Loose may seriously shock you, as it did me! It was written by Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe), John 5 (Ex-Marilyn Manson, Dave Lee Roth, Rob Zombie and also played on Paul Stanley’s latest solo release) and huge hit (for Bon Jovi, Heart, Alice Cooper, Cher, Aerosmith, Kiss, Joan Jett, Michael Bolton, Ricky Martin and many others) writer, Desmond Child. It’s what’s called Nu-Metal today, with a grungy feel. I guess Meat is just trying to keep up in today’s market? It kind of grows, but not typical of Meat Loaf.Oh, I guess I should also let you know that this album was not entirely written by Steinman, as the previous two Bat releases were, although his solo release, Bad For Good has been raided for this album on a couple of tracks. Desmond Child picks up what Jim didn’t write, obviously with a few old friends. Des also produced the album.
Blind as a Bat (where do they get these titles?) is next, and is a return to the Meat of old: a power ballad that has a little more power than ballad. It’s good!
You may have heard the old Steinman track, It’s All Coming Back To Me Now. Celine Dion had a big hit with it. This version is a duet with Marion Raven, a new talent who’s got a heck of a voice. It’s OK.
Bad For Good is next and, yes, it reinforces that Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf just gel musically. Incidentally, on this track the guest guitarist is none other than Queen’s Brian May! Sweet!
Next is a classic Meat Loaf performance on Diane Warren’s Cry For Me. Like Des Child, Warren is a very successful songwriter, generally for the same folks I mentioned for Mr. Child, but then add a few.
Bats and Pigs
OK, we’re surely stretching for song titles now. In The Land Of The Pig, The Butcher Is King is actually a big orchestral event, with a powerful driving hard rock backing mixed in. Epic!Monstro is a brief choral piece that runs into Alive, which I really love as it’s basically Desmond Child writes Jim Steinman, and I have to say Meat Loaf does him proud!
If God Could Talk is another strong song, and I couldn’t help thinking it had a familiar style. Another big name songwriter, Marti Frederiksen (Def Leppard, Faith Hill, Aerosmith) was responsible for this one, which may be why it seemed familiar.
Jim Steinman’s If It Ain’t Broke, Break It kicks in next, and proceeds to rock out with horns, slide and rockin’ guitars a la Aerosmith, and big chanting choruses a la Bon Jovi. Rockin’!
What About Love is another great catchy song, another joint lead vocal with another great female vocalist. Patti Russo has toured with Meat Loaf and has been on his last three albums. Good stuff, Mr. Loaf. You certainly know a good thing when you find it!
Trademark Touches
The epic Seize The Night is next, clocking in at just under 10 minutes and made up of so many traditional Meat Loaf touches: big guitars, orchestral sounds, big choral arrangements, great vocals. Killer!The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be sounds almost Beatles-ish as it starts, before getting into a gospel type choral touch that Meat Loaf albums really seem to benefit from. On this one, Jennifer Hudson shares some of the lead vocals. Another long track at a tad short of eight minutes, it also doesn’t seem to grab me as I thought it might. Still good, but not great to me.
Closing song Cry To Heaven almost has a Gaelic sound to it, with Meat Loaf almost in operatic form towards the end. Sombre ending to a rocking album. It is good, but, like the opening track, does it really work? Just seems out of place here.
In general it’s a good album, worthy of 4 out of 5 for me!
