MEAT LOAF
Bat Out of Hell: The Monster is Loose
Virgin Records 2006
www.meatloaf.net

What’s the 4-1-1?
Almost 30 years after the original "Bat" was released and 13 years since "Bat II" hit the shelves comes yet another installment of the "Bat" series! This time around the epic story is produced by hitmaker Desmond Child. And as Meat says this time the "Bat" story is more personal.

Genre
Theatrical hard rock

The Good
Meat is back and is better than ever! From the opening strains of "The Monster Is Loose" to the closing notes of "Cry To Heaven" Meat takes you on a journey that gives you a glimpse of the man behind the voice. However, as good as this album is, I can't help feeling that the Jim Steinman penned songs (except for "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" and "Land Of The Pigs") missed the mark this time around as they are kind of boring compared to the rest of the album. but then again that may be due to Desmond Child's production techniques.

I normally wouldn't do this in my reviews but I feel like in order to give you a better insight I am going to give you my insights on a track by track basis with a "Bat" score in relation to the series (out of 5 possible):

1. The Monster Is Loose - This is a brilliant album opener. It's much heavier than anything Meat has ever attempted but he comes across well vocally here. Co-written by Nikki Sixx(Motley Crue) John "5" Lowery(Marilyn Manson) and producer Desmond Child, Meat voice is driven to an angry extreme in a style all of his own. As much as I love this song I don't feel it's "Bat" worthy.
Bat Score: 2

2. Blind As A Bat - This song is definately one of the highlights and showcases Meat's ability to emit a very emotional vocal. This is another Desmond Child penned song but unlike others on this album he got the "Bat sound" right
on this one! This one will most likely turn out better live than it did here as you get the feeling Desmond seemed a tad lost on how to drive this over the top sonically. Bat Score: 4.5

3. It's All Coming Back To Me Now (Featuring Marion Raven) - The first of 7 Jim Steinman penned tracks for Bat 3 make an appearance. This song dates back to Bat 2 as that was what it was originally written for, but got it's first release on a Celine Dion album. This version is not as theatrical sounding as Celine's but I once again attribute that to Desmond Child and seems poppier than Celine's but it does have some great vocals from Marion Raven who I think sings more of the song than she needed to as this is a Meat Loaf album. Meat's voice isn't as strong as it should be for this kind of song but I think it was ultimately done to get Marion some publicity rather than give Meat the attention. Bran May(Queen) plays guitar here. Bat Score: 4

4. Bad For Good - This song was written in 1979 for the original Bat 2 album that got sidelined for some reason and in turn was released on Jim Steinman's album of the same name. Once again Desmond's production holds back this kind of song as Jim's version was much closer musically to what this song should sound like. I'm sure as with "Blind As A Bat" once Meat plays this live it'll sound much closer to it's original intent. Bat Score: 4

5. Cry Over Me - A nice little ballad from Desmond. Meat sounds very good here as this is closer to his vocal element and here the production is great for this song. However, I don't think it fits with the "Bat" theme at all. Bat Score: 1

6. In The Land Of The Pigs, The Butcher Is King - The 3rd Jim Steinman penned song and what I consider the best of his songs for this album. This is, hands down, the heaviest song Jim ever wrote, maybe a little too heavy! After hearing this, I begin to wonder what this album would've sounded like had he continued on as producer back in 2002. Desmond had some help bringing this track to life from programmer Chris Vrenna(ex-NIN) and guitar god Steve Vai. Meat sounds the most intense on this track it reminds me of some of his live performances of earlier "Bat" material. Is this true " Bat" material? I cannot answer that question and be faithful to my love for this song. Bat Score: Lyrically 5 Musically ?

7. Monstro (inst) - This is a useless piece of garbage but if you need a bathroom break.....Bat Score: 0

8. Alive - Another Desmond track but this one really hits the mark and sounds as if it was written for the original "Bat" This song is what this entire album should sound like. I really liked this song as even as a producer, Desmond finally lets the song direct him rather than the opposite as it is with much of this album (especially the Steinman songs) You will be singing this one in no time at your local karaoke bar. Bat Score: 5

9. If God Could Talk - This is the song that got Desmond the job as producer for this album. This isn't really a Meat Loaf style track but it'll tug at your hearstrings like any Diane Warren song. Bat Score: 1

10. If It Ain't Broke, Break It - This is another Jim Steinman classic. This one has all the "Bat" trimmings both lyrically and musically and is another heavy song in the vein of "Life Is A Lemon" from Bat 2 yet a bit more intense. I was very thrilled that Desmond didn't stiffle the musicanship on this one but sadly this is the last track that he did the songs justice. Meat is in top notch form here and you won't be able to control your desire to scream along with him! I have a feeling that the title of this song was Jim Steinman's instructions that he gave to Desmond. Bat Score: 5

11. What About Love (Featuring Patti Russo) - The last Desmond Child penned song on the album and it isn't good! I can't help but to feel Patti Russo wasted her time and energy on such an unispired and lackluster song! This woman deserves better, I mean after countless years of touring with Meat Loaf you would've thought they'd give her some better material than this late 80's sounding crap or at the very least give her more than one verse to sing on! This song should've been put on Meat's next album not on a "Bat" album.
Bat Score: 0

12. Seize The Night - From this point on it's all Jim Steinman songs. This one sounds like a cross between Trans Siberian Orchestra and Meat Loaf. The arrangements attempt to sound deliberate and complex but Desmond doesn't let it be heard that way. Instead, he clumps everything together in a bowl and hopes that you think he did a great job producing this epic. This definately needs Jim Steinman's production skills in order for it to not sound like album filler. Bat Score: 3

13. The Future Ain't What It Used to Be - This is a decent track but it's needs more drive to it. It almost sounds incomplete, but has all the makings of a great "Bat" track Jennifer Hudson provides some great Harmony vocals here and compliments Meat well. Bat Score: 4

14. Cry To Heaven - A pretty little ballad. This is the most "Bat" sounding ballad on this album. Bat Score: 3

The Bad
Jim Steinman's direction is sorely missed as this really is his story as told by Meat Loaf. I think they should've scrapped this installment until Meat and Jim could've collabrated to a finished product. To me this is just a cheap attempt to cash in on the "Bat" series and get Meat Loaf back out in the public's eye once again.

The Verdict
Not really a chapter from the "Bat Out Of Hell" series but a noble attempt.

Did You Know?
Jim Steinman suffered a heart attack in 2001 causing his outster on this project. Meat Loaf's daughter Pearl is engaged to Scott Ian of Anthrax.

Rating: out of 3 - Ain't Bad!

--Highway Boots