Skid Row
Revolutions Per Minute
Steamhammer/Riot!



As older and more sophisticated readers may recall, Skid Row were big in the early '90s. Fronted by motormouth and egomaniac Sebastian Bach, they were often lumped in with the hair-metal brigade. In reality, however, Skid Row were a much grittier and punk-influenced band who had more in common with Guns'N'Roses than Motley Crue and Poison.

Albums such as their self-titled debut and 1991's 'Slave To The Grind' sold millions worldwide, but the arrival of grunge largely spelt the end for Skid Row and they split acrimoniously in the mid-'90s.

So much for the history lesson. What you need to know now is that Skid Row have reformed, with a new singer Johnny Solinger replacing Bach (last seen performing in Broadway musicals). 'Revolutions Per Minute' is their second album since getting back together and guess what? It is a dead-set pearler!

Avoiding the temptation of recruiting a singer who sounds just like their old one, Skid Row have come up with an original, fresh and surprising album. Opening track Disease provides a solid, heavy, but almost subdued, opening before the raucous Another Dick In The System really cranks it up in true sleazy Skid Row style. White Trash, Love Is Dead and Let It Ride are other tracks that recall the band's halcyon days.

The real highlights for me, though, are two songs that would never have appeared on their early albums. When God Can't Wait is a boisterous punk rock anthem that would not be out of place on a Rancid or Social Distortion album, while Strength is an amped-up cover of a track by the '80s Scottish post-punk band The Alarm.

This is a fantastic dirty rock'n'roll album that will appeal to fans of Buckcherry and Beautiful Creatures. Skid Row have produced an album that recalls all their original swagger and aggression, while still adding something new and fresh.

James McKenzie