Bat out Of Hell launched Meat Loaf into superstardom with hits like Two out Of Three Aint’ Bad, You Took the Words Right out Of My Mouth, rock epics like Bat Out Of Hell, and the show-stopping opera that was Paradise By The Dashboard Light. Meatloaf's powerhouse vocals combined with Jim Steinman's compositions made for an incredible combination. A sequel to Bat Out Of Hell was planned but a conflict between Meatloaf and Steinman, Meatloaf's physical and emotional problems, and a series of failed albums by Meatloaf it seemed as though Meatloaf had become a name of the past and that the sequel would never see the light of day.
But in 1993...some would say like a
Bat Out Hell Meatloaf came storming back into the charts with the long-awaited sequel
Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell. Continuing in the vein of Bat Out Of Hell, Back Into Hell is comprised of roaring guitars, powerful vocals, and instantly memorable hooks! The album kicks off with the epic 12 minute masterpiece
I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) emotional vocals, explosive guitars, multiple-tempo changes, and one of the best hooks ever written, make this one of, (if not) the best Meatloaf song ever. It is comprised of everything that makes Meatloaf great, including the superb duet sequence seen before in songs like Paradise by the Dashboard lights.
Starting the album off with a song this good could easily prove to be suicidal but the Rock N'Roll guitar epic
Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back does not disappoint at all. It changes the tempo and the mood of the album with a killer guitar riff, and a massive chorus that sounds like it was meant to be sung in a sold-out arena with all the fans singing along.
Rock And Roll Dreams is a moderately up-tempo ballad with some heart warming lyrics about love and how when you need it the most that's when Rock and Roll Dreams come true.
It Just Won't Quit continues in the vein of Rock And Roll Dreams in that it is a piano based ballad with a memorable chorus and a great vocal performance.
Out of The Frying Pan (And into the Fire) continues in the vein of the previous songs adding little of anything new but still not indicating any quality drop.
Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are is the second longest track (I Would Do Anything is the longest) coming in at just a little over ten minutes, and it is an epic in the vein of I Would Do Anything For Love.
Wasted Youth is an oddity on this album. I wouldn’t call it a song so much as I would call it a sketch. The narrator tells a story of how he got his first guitar (he can’t remember if it was a Stratocaster or a Telecaster), and how his guitar bled Chuck Berry red for a week and then he could play notes he’d never even heard before. He then begins to smash his guitar over random things including a varsity cheerleader’s body, and a Harley Davidson. Then he goes up to smash his guitar over his parent’s bodies but before he can his dad wakes up screaming “That’s no way to treat an expensive musical instrument!” Too which the narrator replies “GOD! DAMNIT! Daddy! You know I love you, but you’ve got a lot to learn about Rock N’ Roll! It’s a lot funnier when you hear it.
Wasted Youth leads right into the up-tempo arena rock
Everything Louder than Everything Else in which Meatloaf tells us how he likes his music like he likes his life everything louder than everything else, followed by another up-tempo rocker track called
Good Girls go to Heaven (Bad Girls go everywhere) aren’t Meatloaf’s song titles enough to make you want to listen to these songs?
Back into Hell is a triumphant instrumental that leads into the closing track
Lost Boys and Golden Girls a slow piano ballad that brings a pleasant and gentle ending to the album.
Overall – 5/5 – Personal Response
This is a great album for anyone who enjoys piano ballads, roaring rock n’ roll numbers and mini opera rock epics. All of the songs have enough tempo and dynamic changes, and showcase such great story-telling that even though only 3 out of the 11 songs are under five minutes, and 5 of the 11 are over 7 minutes none of the songs ever drag on, and the album never feels as long as it is. The song titles alone should spark your interest! I personally can’t wait for Bat out of Hell III and if it’s anywhere near as good as I and II it will be pretty damn good!
Recommended Tracks
- I Would Do Anything for Love
- Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back
- Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through
