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1.  Kicking and Screaming
2.  My Own Worst Enemy
3.  Tunnel Vision
4.  Dance on Your Grave
5.  Caught in a Dream
6.  As Long As I Got the Music
7.  I’m Alive
8.  Dirty Power
9.  Live the Life
10.  Dream Forever
11.  One Good Reason
12.  Lost in the Light
13.  Wishin’

Total playing time:  51:42

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Label: Frontiers Records

Sebastian Bach - Kicking & Screaming

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

December 18, 2011

First he goes gaga over Axl Rose, then he wins the second season of CMT’s Gone Country, then he announces his new lead guitarist is half his age.  Not to mention some time on Broadway and even on TV, Sebastian Bach’s post-Skid Row career has been full of peaks, valleys and even a few un-Metal oddities. But on Kicking & Screaming, it appears the accomplished vocalist is back in a vicious form.

The album opener and title track find Bach not only in fine form, but using a higher register than his last few albums.  Guitarist Nick Sterling dishes out plenty of crunch while long time drummer Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Demons & Wizards) hits a bit harder than the song requires. “My Own Worst Enemy” picks up the tempo and is a tremendously accessible rocker that deserves radio air-play. “Tunnel Vision” continues the heaviness of the previous tracks and features some guest shredding from John 5 (Rob Zombie, ex-Marilyn Manson) while “Dance on Your Grave” may have the most sonic heft and grinding grooves of the entire disc.

Things soften a bit with “Caught in a Dream.” While not as heavy as the previous song, it’s has some catchy hooks, a soaring chorus and some nice bass and guitar work courtesy of Sterling.  “As Long As I Got the Music” works more as an AOR anthem that also deserves some radio play (but won’t get it as long as Rock radio in the States is stuck on garbage like Nickelback, Kid Rock and Five Finger Death Punch).  Things get back to the grind with some serious swagger on both “Dirty Power” and “Live the Life” where Sterling shows off his ability to unleash some wicked grooves.  Thing continue with the thick “One Good Reason” that sounds like it could have come off Bach’s last disc with Bach as it’s not only just as heavy, but Bach stretches his vocal chords a bit more here and finds that nice snarl and scream he has been underutilizing for a few years. And speaking of heavy, “Lost in the Light” features some thunderous heft.

But no Bach album would be complete without a few soft spots.  “I’m Alive,” “Dream Forever” and the pop/country flavored “Wishin’” give Kicking & Screaming some spots to break out the lighters.  The songs are by no means sappy, in fact, both “I’m Alive” and “Dream Forever” wouldn’t even qualify as ballads.

For fans of Sebastian Bach, Kicking & Screaming is essential.  It’s not as heavy as 2007’s Angel Down, but it has much more personality and Bach’s vocal chords are showing no sign of wear. The music is great and guitarist Nick Sterling may be pretty young for the Rock n’ Roll game, but it’s in Bach’s best interest to keep him around. Also producer Bob Marlette gives Kicking & Screaming some nice depth as the guitars can deliver some crushing crunch up to a nice warm tone in the same song.  Marlette not only helped write a few songs, but also is the producer that gave Alice Cooper and Tony Iommi’s solo discs some serious weight a few years back.

Kicking & Screaming is a perfect fit for Bach and Rock/Metal fans. Highly recommended.