SKID ROW – Slave To The Grind [Japan remaster SHM-CD] [Limited Release]

Many readers praised the high quality of several Japanese SHM-CD remasters presented here, and asked for this excellent, out of print, hard to find Limited Release of SKID ROW‘s killer classic “Slave To The Grind“.

“Slave To The Grind” marked the band’s move towards the heavier sound of their origins.
Indeed Skid Row get harder and heavier on most the songs, matching singer Sebastian Bach’s gritty, streetwise rants to lean, driving riffs that manage to back up all the attitudinal posturing.
Largely missing are the bits of hair metal that filled out Skid Row’s self-titled debut; in their place lyrics were more complex, criticizing modern ways of life, authority, politic corruption, drugs and organized religion, with Bach affecting a tough, threatening persona most of the time.

The furious riffage kicked up behind Bach is as threatening as his monster vocal delivery, with Rachel Bolan and Rob Affuso pounding on the bass / rhythm section, and Scotti Hill and Dave “Snake” Sabo (a really talented & underrated guitarist) wail the guitar parts.
“Monkey Business”, “Get The Fuck Out”, “The Threat”, and the thrashy title track crush most anything on the debut, and the awesome power ballads like “Quicksand Jesus” and “Wasted Time” are far less generic than their Skid Row counterparts.
“Psycho Love” is filled with terrific guitar phrasing, on the catchy “Livin’ On A Chain Gang” Bach proves why he is one of the best Rock singers of all time, while “Riot Act” kicks you in the face with its power.
And there’s my favorite Skid Row songs ever; “In A Darkened Room”, combining a sweet main melody with a sustained guitar work.

Many observers were surprised when “Slave To The Grind” became the first metal album in the US to debut at number 1 on the Billboard charts, but there was a simple reason: it really is one of the best – and heaviest – examples of mainstream hard rock / metal in the genre’s MTV heyday.
This album is absolute gold, showcasing Skid Row at their peak, all songs are terrific and production first rate.

The remaster on this Japanese SHM-CD is fantastic, and you have 4 juicy bonus tracks: “Beggar’s Day” (original Japanese Bonus Track, which as well replaced “Get the Fuck Out” on the ‘Clean Version’ of the album), plus 3 tracks exclusive to this Limited Release, sadly, now out of print.
A MUST HAVE

Warner Music Japan ~ WPCR-13578 | 国内盤 | SHM-CD

01 – Monkey Business
02 – Slave To The Grind
03 – The Threat
04 – Quicksand Jesus
05 – Psycho Love
06 – Get The Fuck Out
07 – Livin’ On A Chain Gang
08 – Creepshow
09 – In A Darkened Room
10 – Riot Act
11 – Mudkicker
12 – Wasted Time
13 – Beggar’s Day (original Japanese bonus track)
14 – Holidays In The Sun (new Japanese bonus track)
15 – Get The Fuck Out [Live 91] (new Japanese bonus track)
16 – Delivering The Goods [Live 92] (new Japanese bonus track)

Sebastian Bach – lead vocals
Rachel Bolan – bass, backing vocals
Scotti Hill – guitars, backing vocals
Dave “The Snake” Sabo – guitars, backing vocals
Rob Affuso – drums and percussion

Out Of Print – Try here:
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCR-13578
.