JoeLumb's Album Review Skid Row's "Slave to The Grind" (1991)

 It's nice to see a band like Skid Row finally re-emerge from being at the bottom following the departure of frontman Sebastian Bach to hiring a fresh young energetic singer from Sweden named Erik Gronwall. But today I review Skid Row's second studio album "Slave to the Grind" 

For "Slave to the Grind" Skid Row comprised of then singer Sebastian Bach Bassist and co-founder Rachel Bolan,Guitarist and co-founder Dave "Snake" Sabo,guitarist Scotti Hill and drummer Rob Affuso had retained the services of German producer Michael Wagener (who also produced Skid Row's debut release when it came out in 1989) Beginning recording in the later half of 1990 in two studios one in Fort Lauderdale's New River Studio and Los Angeles' Scream Studios,for "Slave to the Grind" this record marked the band's move toward a heavier sound with the title track moving more towards Speed Metal. However it included power ballads and a few lighter tracks. The lyrics were more complex,criticizing modern ways of life,authority,politics,drugs and organized religion(which explains the song "Quicksand Jesus" one of my favorite songs of the disc.) According to Michael Wagener he stated that the demoing and pre-production went well and the title track was recorded and mixed within an hour and was placed on the album itself without any remixes. 

The Cover art for "Slave to the Grind" was done by Sebastian Bach's father David Bierk and it was a long ass mural that continued inside the album's booklet. Even though set in the medieval era,it depicts people using modern technological gadgets. The albums cover was inspired by Caravaggio's Burial of St.Lucy from 1608 and showed John F. Kennedy in the crowd.

After the recording was complete Skid Row went on tour opening for Guns N' Roses on the 1991 North American leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour. The first single off of "Slave to the Grind" was "Monkey Business" and it was one of and still is their heaviest songs on their setlist. Skid Row in 1992 was on a headlining tour with Pantera and Soundgarden opening for them. 

"Slave to the Grind" was released on June 11,1991,debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and it became the first #1 album in the new Nielsen Soundscan era. But there were two different versions of the album one that featured the profane "Get The Fuck Out" the other was a cleaner version with the song "Beggar's Day" My favorite songs off of "Slave to the Grind" are the title track,Monkey Business,Riot Act,Mudkicker,Wasted Time,Get the Fuck Out and Quicksand Jesus. I rate "Slave to the Grind" a 10/10

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