RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average D = yawn F = puke

Sebastian Bach - ABachalypse Now
Frontiers Records
http://www.frontiers.it/album/5121/

Rating: B-

Okay, the title to this CD/DVD package aside, this is ‘80’s rock to the max!  The name, ABachalypse Now is, well, come on, as silly and stupid as Baz can sometimes be—anyone remember the VH1 show Supergroup where he wanted to name the band Fist?  Well, it seems Frontiers gave him carte blanch to name this CD/DVD anything he wanted! 

Silly name aside, Frontiers and Baz have collaborated to release three different concerts from Heavy Metal’s beloved front man.  Bach comments, “We have included three recent concerts and the footage is totally kickass! It’s remixed and remastered for full audio and video quality. The performances and energy of the crowds are killer throughout the DVD and you really feel like you are at the shows.” 

The DVD comes across better as the warts, vocal quirks and cover ups are not as noticeable while watching the concert (“I Remember You” relies a background harmonies and sweet shit instead of the vocal chord razor blade screams that made the song so great back in the day). That said, Baz has worked on his voice and he sounds, overall, pretty damn good and confident.  

The three shows featured in this release are from 2012’s GrasPop Festival in Belgium, the full never-before-seen Hellfest set from France and the fully-remixed and remastered Club Nokia show from Los Angeles (originally broadcasted on AXS TV).   Bachs latest studio album, Kicking & Screaming is featured heavenly, and rightly so as it hands down the best solo effort of his career.  Of course, there are plenty of Skid Row classic such as “Slave to the Grind,” “Monkey Business,” “18 & Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I’ll Remember You” included as well.  

While haters of Baz will want to dismiss this one, just because they love to hate the blond haired rocker, cranking this one up to 11 and watching the concert really makes you wish you had been there…and is there any more of a compliment to a live DVD than that?  Not really.  

Tracklisting:

CD1 - Sebastian Bach – Live at Hellfest, France 2012
Slave to the Grind; Kicking & Screaming; Here I Am; Big Guns; Piece of Me; 18 & Life; American Metalhead; Monkey Business; I Remember You; Youth Gone Wild. 

CD2 - Sebastian Bach – Live at Club Nokia, Los Angeles CA 2012
Big Guns; (Love Is) a Bitch Slap; Piece of Me; 18 & Life; American Metal Head; Monkey Business; I Remember You; TunnelVision; Youth Gone Wild.

DVD Contents:
Live at Hellfest, France
Slave to the Grind; Kicking & Screaming; Here I Am; Big Guns; Piece of Me; 18 & Life; American Metalhead; Monkey Business; I Remember You; Youth Gone Wild.
Live at Club Nokia, Los Angeles
Big Guns; (Love Is) a Bitch Slap; Piece of Me; 18 & Life; American Metal Head; Monkey Business; I remember You; TunnelVision; Youth Gone Wild
Live at Graspop, Belgium
Kicking & Screaming; Dirty Power; Here I Am; Big Guns; 18 & Life; American Metalhead; Monkey Business; I Remember You; TunnelVision

Bonus Music Videos:
Kicking & Screaming; TunnelVision; I'm Alive.

Musicians:
Sebastian Bach: All Vocals / Cowbell
Nick Sterling: Electric Guitar / Acoustic Guitar
Bobby Jarzombek: Drums
Johnny Chromatic: Guitars, background vocals
Jason Rappise: Bass

By Jeb Wright