Album of the Day

Perhaps it was the influence of grunge that inspired Skid Row to shift from the pop-metal of their earlier hits to something heavier and more intense on SUBHUMAN RACE; the presence of producer Bob Rock (famed for his work with Metallica) may have also been a factor. Whatever the reason, the 1995 collection was the New York quintet's most ferocious to date. If songs like “Breakin' Down” tread familiar power ballad territory, cuts like “My Enemy,” “Bonehead” and the title track are darker and more aggressive than the group's fans were accustomed to - which may be why the collection, while still a Top 40 hit, was less successful than its predecessors. But for those who gave SUBHUMAN RACE a listen, the final Skid Row album to feature frontman Sebastian Bach and drummer Rob Affuso may well be the band's best.