Sebastian Bach is Back with Child Within the Man, His First in a Decade!

CHILD WITHIN THE MAN is the fifth solo studio album from ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach. It’s his first studio album since 2014’s GIVE ‘EM HELL.

What a long and strange trip it’s been for Sebastian Bach. One of rock’s wildest and most infamous frontmen, he fronted Skid Row in their heyday and recorded several fantastic records with that classic hard rock band. Being estranged from his ex-bandmates hasn’t stopped Bas from doing what he does best, though. Since his solo debut, 1999’s BRING ‘EM BACH ALIVE!, he’s continued to rock the world, content to do his own thing with one of the industry’s most distinct singing voices and personalities.

I’m sure people were wondering if and when they’d hear from Mr. Bach after a lengthy absence of new studio releases. CHILD WITHIN THE MAN is a release literally a decade in the making, but at long last, it’s finally here. Bach is the kind of man who has to do everything in a big way, so unsurprisingly, some guest stars are along for the ride, including the likes of Todd Kerns, John 5, Orianthi, and Steve Stevens, to name a few.

Classic artists recording new music is always a risky proposition. Does one attempt to modernize and give in to modern sound trends and technology to create something relevant while potentially alienating the classic fanbase? Or do they take the tried-and-true path, recreating their classic sound without branching out of their lanes or growing musically? It seems to create the most impactful and lasting release, an artist has to find the balance between these two extremes.

For CHILD WITHIN THE MAN, this headbanger is happy to report that Bas has found that happy middle ground, giving audiences what may quite possibly be his strongest recordings since Skid Row’s seminal 1991 classic release, SLAVE TO THE GRIND (and perhaps in homage to that classic record, this one also features cover art by Sebastian’s father). Bas isn’t content to simply rehash the old Skid Row sound; there’s definitely more of a modern rock sound and production style here, but it still retains enough of what made us fall in love with the guy’s musical abilities. While most of the album is understandably hard and heavy, Bas isn’t afraid to slow it down and go more melodic at times, giving the release some much-needed variety. In fact, closing ballad “To Live Again” may even be the strongest cut.

Mr. Bach rocks hard on this one! It may have taken us a decade to get CHILD WITHIN THE MAN, but Bas proudly proclaimed he’s here to stay with his latest release, and I as a rock fan welcome that! It’s a great new release from one of rock’s most infamous figures, beautifully combining the old and new with a great array of musicians. Very highly recommended!