Subhuman Race
| Subhuman Race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Skid Row | ||||
| Released | March 28, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 56:39 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Bob Rock | |||
| Skid Row chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Subhuman Race | ||||
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Subhuman Race is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on March 28, 1995 by Atlantic Records. Subhuman Race is the last Skid Row album with singer Sebastian Bach and drummer Rob Affuso. It is regarded as the band's heaviest record. Despite obtaining gold status and receiving positive reviews, it was not as successful as the band's first two albums. Certain tracks from the album were remixed for the band's compilation 40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row, given more tender, slightly cleaner mixes to fit better with the other tracks. To promote Subhuman Race, Skid Row supported Van Halen on the North American tour.
Following the album, Skid Row released a live EP titled Subhuman Beings on Tour, featuring live performances from the Subhuman Race tour. It is also the only Skid Row album to be produced by Bob Rock, also known for his work in Mötley Crüe, as well as longtime producer for Metallica.
Album information
Groove metal influences are apparent on the track "Iron Will". Crossover thrash influences are also present on the track "Bonehead", as well as speed metal influences which are heard on the title track. "Breakin' Down", the only power-ballad from the record, is heavily alternative influenced. "Frozen" and "Beat Yourself Blind" both have grunge influences.
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | D[3] |
| Q | [4] |
| Rolling Stone | [5] |
Subhuman Race received mostly mixed to positive reviews. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it four stars out of five, and said that it saw the band "strip back their music to the basics" and was their "strongest and most vicious record to date."[1] Rolling Stone gave it three stars, calling it "the freshest riffage since last year's Soundgarden record" and also noting the "tight, hot guitar lines and radio hooks that burn themselves into your brain".[5] Q gave it four stars praising both the guitars that "grumble and mutter more menacingly than ever" and Bach's "awesome vocal pyrotechnics", summarizing that "Skid Row has come up with an outright winner."[4]
However, Subhuman Race has also been criticized by some fans, who call it Skid Row's "worst album". Bassist Rachel Bolan has made known his negative feelings about Subhuman Race. In an interview in November 2006, Bolan stated: "That record was a nightmare. Internally the band had fallen apart but we were forced to go in and do another record and it was a nightmare with the recording, writing and producing. We worked with someone we had not worked with before after being so successful with Michael and we were used to the way he did things. I am not slighting Bob at all, he is a genius producer but it was bad timing. I did not have the greatest time, it was nobody's fault, it was just the way things were. Also the record absolutely sucks."[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Enemy" | Rob Affuso, Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill | 3:38 |
| 2. | "Firesign" | Sebastian Bach, Bolan, Hill, Dave Sabo | 4:54 |
| 3. | "Bonehead" | Bolan, Sabo | 2:16 |
| 4. | "Beat Yourself Blind" | Bach, Bolan, Hill, Sabo | 5:02 |
| 5. | "Eileen" | Affuso, Bach, Bolan, Sabo | 5:36 |
| 6. | "Remains to be Seen" | Bolan, Hill, Sabo | 3:34 |
| 7. | "Subhuman Race" | Bolan, Hill, Sabo | 2:40 |
| 8. | "Frozen" | Bolan, Sabo | 4:43 |
| 9. | "Into Another" | Bolan, Sabo | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Face Against My Soul" | Affuso, Bach, Bolan, Sabo | 4:20 |
| 11. | "Medicine Jar" | Bolan, Hill, Sabo | 3:36 |
| 12. | "Breakin' Down" | Sabo | 4:30 |
| 13. | "Iron Will" | Affuso, Bolan, Hill, Sabo | [†]7:43 |
| 14. | "Untitled hidden track" | 0:40 | |
| Total length: | 56:39 | ||
^ † The song "Iron Will" ends at 4:45 followed by 2:15 of silence before the hidden song plays
Personnel
Skid Row
- Sebastian Bach – vocals
- Scotti Hill – guitar, backing vocals
- Dave Sabo – guitar, backing vocals
- Rachel Bolan – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Rob Affuso – drums, percussion
Production
- Bob Rock – producer
- Randy Staub – engineer
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[7] | 5 |
| Canadian Albums Chart[8] | 31 |
| Dutch Albums Chart[7] | 84 |
| German Albums Chart[7] | 57 |
| Japanese Albums Chart[9] | 6 |
| Swedish Albums Chart[7] | 21 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[7] | 49 |
| UK Albums Chart[10] | 8 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 35 |
References
- 1 2 "Subhuman Race - Skid Row".
- ↑ Golemis, Dean (March 30, 1995). "Skid Row Subhuman Race (Atlantic)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ↑ Farber, Jim (March 31, 1995). "Subhuman Race Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- 1 2 "Skid Row: Subhuman Race". Q: 114. May 1995.
- 1 2 Gold, Jonathan (April 20, 1995). "Skid Row: Subhuman Race : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone: 78. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Skid Row Bassist Says The 'Subhuman Race' Album 'Absolutely Sucks'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Skid Row – Subhuman Race" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Top Albums/CDs". RPM (magazine). Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ↑ "Skid Row Chart History". Oricon. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
- ↑ "Chart Stats – Skid Row". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Skid Row – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
External links
- Subhuman Race at Discogs (list of releases)