BACH,SEBASTIAN
CHILD WITHIN THE MAN - CD

Sebastian’s return is long overdue, to say the least.

He dropped his last solo record, Give ‘Em Hell, in 2014. Since then, he remained as busy as ever on the road. He launched popular tours such as 18 and LIVE as well as celebratory 30th anniversary jaunts in honor of the self-titled Skid Row and Slave To The Grind, performing each classic in its entirety. Not to mention, he unveiled his acclaimed autobiography 18 and Life on Skid Row.

Along the way, he carefully assembled what would become Child Within the Man with none other than powerhouse producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette [Mammoth WVH, Alter Bridge] behind the board. He proved to be the perfect fit both sonically and philosophically. Rather than record on the West Coast, Sebastian and his cohorts Devin Bronson [guitar], Todd Kerns [bass], and Jeremy Colson [drums] decamped to Florida and holed up at Elvis’s Studio Barbarosa.

They invariably benefitted from living, writing, and recording together under one roof—a first for Sebastian.

“In my whole career, I’ve never lived in a house with the band, and it was like a whole family. We’d walk downstairs, get coffee, eat breakfast, and go to work. It’s how Elvis does things.”

The title represents the arc of the album for Sebastian and, ultimately, his journey thus far. No matter how much the world around him has changed, he has never lost sight of why he pursued music in the first place. Like a surge of uncontainable energy, his excitement powers up the album.

“Nothing makes me feel more like a little kid than great rock ‘n’ roll does,” he exclaims. “You can put on a song, and it’ll make you feel like a child—no matter how old you are. That’s what music is all about to me. It’s a valuable thing to have in life. During the years of being shut down for the Pandemic, I’d remind myself how much fun rock is. It adds light to your life. That’s the core theme of the album. Along with the artwork, it’s why Child Within the Man is such a perfect title.”

Mastered by the legendary Robert Ludwig [Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Tool, KISS, Donald Fagen, Eagles, Metallica], the music captures Sebastian at his most impassioned and indomitable with no shortage of youthful spirit. He introduces the record with the arena-ready stomp of “What Do I Got To Lose?” Co-written by Myles Kennedy [Alter Bridge, Slash], guitars lock into a heart-thumping groove as Sebastian’s voice rings out on the refrain, “I’m holding on for judgment day.” The momentum gives way to a fret-burning lead.