Metal veterans Skid Row are back with “The Gang’s All Here.” When the band announced that Erik Grönwall (former Swedish Idol winner and lead vocalist for H.E.A.T) would be their new vocalist replacing ZP Theart I couldn’t have been happier. Grönwall auditioned for Swedish Idol with the Skid Row classic “18 and Life” and that skyrocketed his career and now he’s doing the lead vocals with Skid Row.
Right off the bat “Hell or Highwater” is an instant classic. It comes at you strong with an interesting upbeat tempo that makes you feel like the 80s have never left. The break in the song gives it so much more dimension and Grönwall‘s scream is amazing.
The title track “The Gang’s All Here” is the classic track you would find on any 80s metal band’s album However, the fact that this is put out in 2022 tells you that they are still here after all these years. This one is going to be a crowd pleaser and will be getting a huge following when they play it live. Great use of the guitar solo in the end really catchy lyrics and it will show you why Skid Row is here to stay.
“Not Dead Yet” is one hyped song that brings a freaking smile to my face.
“Don’t Throw Dirt on an Open Casket” is a song in which the lyrics are simple and can be sung as soon as you hear the song for the first time, but they certainly stand for the feeling this song wants to give you. This has definitely made my top ten of released songs this year.
What do you get when you mix American hard rock and Swedish melodic rock? The answer is you get one hell of a track in “Resurrected.” It’s filled with over the top choruses like the rest of the album but with a lot of heavier riffs and amazing harmonies.
With “When The Lights Come On” it seems the band has chosen to go for a blues vibe that kind of sounds like it would fit in really well with the likes of Motley Crüe’s “S.O.S”(same old situation)
Grönwall really shows what he can do with his vocals on this track and it made me really excited.
Overall “The Gang’s All Here” is a really easy to listen to album with loads of great songs and one or two instant classics. I have enjoyed it from the first song and with a playtime of 41 minutes you can listen to it a few times in a row. If you enjoy the mix between hard rock and heavy metal you should really give this album a listen and I can’t wait for what the future brings for the newly revived Skid Row.
Rating: 8,5/10
Release Date: 14th October 2022
Label: EarMUSIC
Writer: Antonie
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 on Fire
