Subhuman Race

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Subhuman Race
File:Skidrow-subhuman.jpg
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
B-Side Ourselves
(1992)B-Side Ourselves1992		 Subhuman Race
(1995)		 Subhuman Beings on Tour
(1995)Subhuman Beings on Tour1995
Singles from Subhuman Race
  1. "My Enemy"
    Released: 1995
  2. "Breakin' Down"
    Released: 1995
  3. "Into Another"
    Released: 1995

Subhuman Race (styled sUBHUMAN rACE on the album cover) 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 recorded with singer Sebastian Bach and drummer Rob Affuso. It is seen 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

Subhuman Race is considered the band's strongest effort to date. Groove metal infleunces are apparent on the track "Ironwill". 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[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars[2]
Chicago Tribune 2.5/4 stars[3]
Entertainment Weekly D[4]
Q 4/5 stars[6]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[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."[2] 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."[6]

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."[7]

Track listing

  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

The song "Ironwill" ends at 4:45 followed by 2:15 of silence before the hidden song plays

Personnel

Additional personnel
  • Bob Rock – producer
  • Randy Staub – engineer

Chart performance

Upon its release, Subhuman Race charted at No. 35 on the US Billboard 200.

Chart Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[citation needed] 5
Canada Albums Chart[citation needed] 31
Japan Albums Chart[citation needed] 6
Swedish Albums Chart[citation needed] 21
Swiss Albums Chart[citation needed] 49
UK Albums Chart[citation needed] 8
U.S. Billboard 200[2] 35

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1995 "Into Another" Mainstream Rock Tracks[8] 28
1995 "Breakin' Down" UK singles[9] 48
1995 "My Enemy"

References

  1. ↑ http://somethingelsereviews.com/2011/09/28/forgotten-series-skid-row-subhuman-race-1995/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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