Bat out of Hell III

I recall clearly that day in 1977 when I first heard “Bat out out Hell”. I was captivated. The loud, racy beat combined with clever lyrics; the epitome of Jim Steinman’s writing style swept me along with their frenetic rhythm. A few years later I waited with anticipation for the follow-up; Dead Ringer and I wasn’t disappointed. Thereafter, Meatloaf and Steinman followed different paths. Meatloaf’s throat problems meant that “Bad for Good” probably likely to have become “Bat out of Hell II” became a Steinman solo project. When “Bat II” finally came, it featured songs from this album and another that Steinman worked on with Pandora’s Box; “Original Sin” – and my, wasn’t that an excellent work… Meatloaf may do justice to Steinman’s exotic lyrics, but the female line up of Ellen Foley, Elaine Caswell, Gina Taylor and Deline Wilde was sublime. Although “Bat II” had new work from Steinman, the covers, while of high quality, were tainted for me by having heard better renditions.

So it is with “Bat out of Hell III”. This, the latest offering from Meatloaf has the same loud, frenetic, over-the-top operatic style as his previous work. It also has four new Steinman tracks. The other Steinman songs have, again, been drawn from “Original Sin” and “Bad for Good” and, frankly, I still prefer the originals even though I like the new Meatloaf renditions. Even the addition of Brian May’s guitar work on “Bad for Good” doesn’t quite make up for the raw original from 1981.

If this sounds like I’m damning with faint praise, perhaps I am. Even so, I love this album. I’m more than happy to have shelled out for the CD. It’s just that the zest isn’t quite there as it once was and that’s probably as much to do with me as it is the music. The anticipation that once preluded a Steinman/Meatloaf collaboration has gone and that’s a shame. Steinman has probably written his best. It says something that even so, he produces a quality that far surpasses much of what is currently touted as music on the high street these days; artificial pap produced for a television market all prepackaged, tasteless, talentless and pointless. Or, worse, much, much worse, the god-awful mindless stacatto chanting rap that is passed off as music. Steinman and Meatloaf may not be quite at the top of their game these days, but they are in a class apart from that dross.

Not all of the tracks on this album come from Steinman’s pen. Desmond Child makes a passable attempt to echo the style. It’s good, but I would stop short of saying great. There is also a contribution from Diane Warren with a power ballad “Cry Over Me”. The swing from powerful rock opera to gentle ballad is present as well as the Steinman word play that is so typical of his writing. Oh, yes, and did I mention that Brian May guitar on “Bad for Good”? It’s growing on me.

If you like Meatlof, then you will, likely as not, like this album. You will, likely as not, be just a little wistful for something that isn’t quite there anymore. It means we are growing older, I’m afraid.