CD Review: BAT OUT OF HELL Original Cast Recording

Rock musical Bat Out of Hell had its debut performance in Manchester in 2017. Following a limited run at the London Coliseum soon after this, the production took over the Dominion Theatre in the West End in April this year.

The show is loosely based upon a Peter Pan and Wendy-type story, but is instead set in a post-apocalyptic world and consists mainly of songs made famous by Meatloaf in his trilogy of Bat Out Of Hell albums.

Although much of the recording was captured during its original run in Manchester, the album release kept getting pushed back due to changes and developments in the musical numbers.

The show has clearly got a great fan base already and the release of this album has been much anticipated.

The book, music and lyrics have been written by American composer and lyricist Jim Steinman, who started his career in musical theatre, but has also gone on to produce some legendary rock albums.

As standalone musical numbers, they are brilliant tracks, but the storytelling through the music is not incredibly clear. Having not seen the stage show, it would be unfair to comment on the book, but the plot does not consistently shine through the music.

Andrew Polec's rock vocals, as Strat, are demonstrated from the outset in "Love and Death and an American Guitar"; he is clearly a very special talent. The song in general isn't the best opener, although it does get much better. "All Revved Up With No Place To Go" showcases good orchestrations and musicality and it is nice to have a difference in tempo and style in "Who Needs The Young".

"Good Girls Go To Heaven" is a great number, with the female ensemble packing a punch, whilst "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" and "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" highlight the soulful tone of Dom Hartley-Harris as Jagwire.

The end of Act One is the pinnacle of the first half, with title track "Bat Out Of Hell", and is where the show truly begins in my eyes. The guitar on this track is sensational. "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" is also a crowd-pleaser, along with "I Would Do Anything For Love" towards the end of the show.

Christina Bennington as Raven is incredible singing "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" in Act Two, and although we have glimmers of her range leading up to this, everything culminates in this track.

A respectful tribute to rock music by talented theatre performers.

The Bat Out of Hell musical recording is available from Ghostlight Records, at most major music retailers.