Search - Meat Loaf :: Bat Out Of Hell III

Much better than I was expecting.

Kevin H. Dudley | Roanoke, VA (USA) | 11/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be completely up front and say that I was expecting a complete tee total disaster with this album.



Being a huge fan of the 1st two Bat Out of Hell albums, I was especially worried back when I found out that genius songwriter Jim Steinman wasn't going to be involved at all in the production/arranging of this album like he had been on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (which is my personal favorite of the 3). Of course, everyone knows that Steinman also wrote all of the tracks on the 1st two Bat albums all by himself anyway with genius Todd Rundgren producing the 1st release..



Sure, 7 of his tracks were going to be covered the Meat Loaf on this release but the rest were going to be written/co-written by producer Desmond Child who is known more for being the type of producer who just resurrects aging artists' careers.



But lo and hehold, when I wound up picking up the 3rd Bat CD and it turned out to actually be a really strong album.



Is it as good as the 1st 2? The answer is a simple no. Without Steinman's guiding hand, the album just lacks that theatrical thread that permeates the previous 2 Bat albums.



But viewed simply as a collection of songs, the album succeeds in really strong fashion. It is easily much stronger than Meat Loaf's 2003 release "Couldn't have said it Better" and 1995's "Welcome to the Neighborhood."



As to be expected, the album's strongest points are the 7 Steinman penned tracks (4 of which have already been recorded by other artists). But the big surprise is how well the Desmond Child penned tracks blend in and stand up almost as strong.



The album's biggest weak point is the title track "The Monster is Loose". Co-written by Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5, this track finds Meat Loaf doing his best to sing over a pretty bad nu-metal sounding track.



But once you get past that, things start really looking up. In fact, the 2nd track "Blind as a Bat" by Desmond Child is one of the best things that Meat Loaf has done.



In fact, he has probably never sounded better than he does on this album. There's a couple of tracks that don't quite work as well as they should, and he also has 3 duets with female vocalists on this release as well instead of just one like on the previous Bat albums. They could have maybe pared the duets down on this a bit. Also, some of the songs lack a bit of the overwrought orchestrations that Steinman gave to the 2nd Bat album. Desmond Child does his best though and the album does have one of the best sounding mixes around.



But overall, this CD is a really good listen and a must have for fans of Meat Loaf. It does stand up well to the 1st two Bat albums and musically sounds right at home with those 2 other classic releases.



Now let's see if Meat and Jim can reconcile their differences and do a 4th Bat album with Jim at the helm!"

Still batty over Meat Loaf

Amanda Richards | Georgetown, Guyana | 10/31/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's all coming back to me now - it's been nearly thirty years since Bat Out of Hell, and thirteen years since Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, but Meat Loaf's unique vocals and style remain the same after all this time.



Despite an initial falling out with Jim Steinman, the two were able to reach a compromise, and seven songs on the album were in fact written by Steinman (albeit for other projects). Another song was written by Diane Warren, the rest by Desmond Child, with a little help from Nikki Sixx, John "5" Lowery, James Michael and others.



For the first single, Meat Loaf reaches back into the past and resurrects "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" featuring Marion Raven, but the ones that got to me were "Alive"; "Bad For Good" with the unmistakable guitar of Brian May of Queen; the seven minute extravaganza of the title track; "Cry Over Me" written by Diane Warren; the operatic "In the Land of the Pig, The Butcher is King" with its little "Phantom of the Opera" bit; "If God Could Talk"; "What About Love" featuring Patti Russo, and "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be" with Jennifer Hudson of American Idol fame.



It's vintage Meat Loaf, and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to complete the trilogy - make it Meat Loaf on the menu tonight.









Amanda Richards, October 31, 2006

"

The Monster Knows How to Rock

Bryan Weber | San Angelo, TX | 10/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a second generation Meatloaf fan, and when I heard that this album was coming out, I looked forward to it with much anticipation. I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed.



The title track, The Monster is Loose, pulls you in nicely, and lets you know what you're in for.



It's All Coming Back to Me is a powerful duet with Marion Raven, and the song sounds superior to the original version done by Celine Dion.



Bad For Good combines Meatloaf's tremendous and powerful voice with the unique and unmistakeable guitar stylings of Brian May, and it's a match made in Heaven.



In the Land of the Pig, The Butcher is King is a powerful song that sounds very much in place on this collection, and sounds like it would have been right at home with any of the Bat Out of Hell trilogy.



Monstro, though short, certainly is a dark, haunting inspiration.



Alive and If God Could Talk fit together perfectly, and are classic Meatloaf in their tone and execution.



What About Love is another stunning duet, this time with Patti Russo, and it is certainly reminiscent of the previous two albums, especially the earlier song, I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).



Seize the Night is easily the longest track on the album, and it has an operatic feel to it. It's magnificent in its scope, and the music and singing evoke a great deal of powerful emotions in the listener.



The Future Ain't What it Used to be is a powerful duet with Jennifer Hudson, and it is perfectly at home on this album.



All in all, a spectacular album, and just what Meatloaf fans have come to expect.

"