Subhuman Race
Encyclopedia
Subhuman Race is the third full-length album by the New Jersey
heavy metal
band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal
, with hints of Anthrax
, and Red Hot Chili Peppers
, while retaining the Guns N' Roses
-style hard rock aesthetic on which they based their sound. The album's sonic range runs the gamut from the blazingly fast and aggressive "Bonehead" and title track, to chugging midtempo "Iron Will" to the saccharine "Firesign". Subhuman Race is the last Skid Row album recorded with singer Sebastian Bach
and drummer Rob Affuso
.
Subhuman Race charted at #35 on the Billboard 200
. 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 bands 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.
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." 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". 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."
Subhuman Race has also been criticized by fans and critics, who call it Skid Row's "worst album". Bassist Rachel Bolan
has made known his mixed 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."
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
, with hints of Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, while retaining the Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
-style hard rock aesthetic on which they based their sound. The album's sonic range runs the gamut from the blazingly fast and aggressive "Bonehead" and title track, to chugging midtempo "Iron Will" to the saccharine "Firesign". Subhuman Race is the last Skid Row album recorded with singer Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
and drummer Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso is an American heavy metal drummer, best known as the original ex-drummer of Skid Row. He stayed with the band until their original break-up in 1996....
.
Subhuman Race charted at #35 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. 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 bands compilation 40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row
40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row
40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row is a compilation album released by Skid Row in 1998, which includes the chart topping singles: "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild". Lead singer Sebastian Bach left the band due to personality differences...
, given more tender, slightly cleaner mixes to fit better with the other tracks. To promote Subhuman Race, Skid Row supported Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
on the North American tour.
Critical reception
Subhuman Race received mostly positive reviews. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
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." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave it three stars, calling it "the freshest riffage since last year's Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
record
Superunknown
Superunknown is the fourth album by American grunge band Soundgarden, released on March 8, 1994 through A&M Records. Soundgarden began work on the album after touring in support of its previous album, Badmotorfinger...
" and also noting the "tight, hot guitar lines and radio hooks that burn themselves into your brain". Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
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."
Subhuman Race has also been criticized by fans and critics, who call it Skid Row's "worst album". Bassist Rachel Bolan
Rachel Bolan
Rachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
has made known his mixed 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
Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
and we were used to the way he did things. I am not slighting Bob
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
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."
Track listing
- "My EnemyMy Enemy"My Enemy" is a song by Skid Row. It was a single from their third album, Subhuman Race which charted at #35 on The Billboard 200. The song was released in 1995 and written by bandmates Rob Affuso, Rachel Bolan and Scotti Hill. A remix of the song was included on the bands compilation album, 40...
" (Rob AffusoRob AffusoRob Affuso is an American heavy metal drummer, best known as the original ex-drummer of Skid Row. He stayed with the band until their original break-up in 1996....
, Rachel BolanRachel BolanRachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
, Scotti HillScotti HillScotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
) – 3:38 - "Firesign" (Sebastian BachSebastian BachSebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
, Bolan, Hill, Dave SaboDave SaboDavid Michael Sabo, nicknamed "The Snake," is a rock guitarist who plays in the heavy metal band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist with guitarist Scotti Hill.-Biography:...
) – 4:54 - "Bonehead" (Bolan, Sabo) – 2:16
- "Beat Yourself Blind" (Bolan, Hill, Snake) – 5:02
- "Eileen" (Affuso, Bach, Bolan, Snake) – 5:36
- "Remains to be Seen" (Bolan, Hill, Snake) – 3:34
- "Subhuman Race" (Bolan, Hill, Snake) – 2:40
- "Frozen" (Bolan, Snake) – 4:43
- "Into AnotherInto Another"Into Another" is a song by Skid Row. It was a single from their third album, Subhuman Race. The song was released in 1995 and written by bandmates Rachel Bolan and Dave "the Snake" Sabo. This is the last single Skid Row released with Sebastian Bach...
" (Bolan, Snake) – 4:02 - "Face Against My Soul" (Affuso, Bach, Bolan, Snake) – 4:20
- "Medicine Jar" (Bolan, Hill, Snake) – 3:36
- "Breakin' DownBreakin' Down"Breakin' Down" is a song by Skid Row. It was the single from their third album, Subhuman Race. The song was released in 1995 and written by Dave "the Snake" Sabo. It is mostly known for its use in the Christopher Walken film The Prophecy...
" (Snake) – 4:30 - "Ironwill" (Affuso, Bolan, Hill, Snake) – 7:43
- Untitled hidden trackHidden trackIn the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
– 0:40
Band
- Sebastian BachSebastian BachSebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
– lead vocals - Scotti HillScotti HillScotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Dave "The Snake" Sabo – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - Rachel BolanRachel BolanRachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Rob AffusoRob AffusoRob Affuso is an American heavy metal drummer, best known as the original ex-drummer of Skid Row. He stayed with the band until their original break-up in 1996....
– drums and percussion
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 5 |
| Canada Albums Chart | 31 |
| Japan Albums Chart | 6 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 21 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 49 |
| UK Albums Chart | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 35 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Into Another" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 28 |
| 1995 | "Breakin' Down" | UK singles | 48 |
| 1995 | "My Enemy" | ||