I've said the same thing about the last couple of albums as well. No knock on Paul at all; it may be the mark of a very common technique where the live drummer in the studio uses triggers (link is to a definition). Whoever made the choice should be introduced to Sound Radix Drum Leveller and Drumatom (links are to videos).

What a shame. The drumming on 'Hang Cool' was remarkable.

Hang Cool was an outstanding album. The Cavallo production was monumental.
On the other hand, I like Handbasket for what it is - A modern sounding album with a lot of great tunes. I found the production fitting. I can't say the same thing about Braver. I must say, I love the songs, but I really don't dig the production on that one.

I have to say that I do dig the band, the tracks are similar to what Meat has been singing to for the past few tours and the return of Steve really makes a difference. But I can't get into Caleb at all - he's a brilliant singer, but he doesn't mean a word he's singing (like a sinner before the gates of heaven I'll come crawling on back to you) and I'm not really a fan of the effect used on the BVs - quite similar to the effects on Braver.

Andrew Polec outshines Caleb on performance by a million miles, and neither of them get anywhere near Meat (obvs). This BAT recording actually highlights just how amazing Andrew is at interpreting the songs.

All of the BV's are done by Justin Avery.

Yes - Justin's an awesome singer but the effect makes him sounds like some sort of robot out of 2001 A space odyssey.

Nobody else will ever be another Meat Loaf. I don't think the album was made thinking that. Meat is a method singer, his abilities to be an interpreter of the song is unmatched. The way he "feels" the song and conveys the feeling to the listener is a once in a lifetime performer. You are right in that Caleb doesn't convey any real emotion. I would however say he is on par with Polec IMO. Both are fine singers in their own way, it is just impossible to fill the shoes of "Bat Out of Hell".

I admit, nitpicking being my nature, that it is a little strange. A body of different voices harmonizing just sounds better to me than one multi-tracked and/or run through some phaser to create a chorus.

Still a lot better than this strange aberration of a background vocal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHWGXMZeJQ

What were they even thinking?

Now, now... if we can't say his name, we probably shouldn't be sharing his music either. :P

Is putting someone in the pillory "sharing"? If it is, I swear I'll behave from now on.

Holy....

That was god awful.

I have no words...

Well, I guess that does serve an illustrative point: proof positive we needed a good Meat tribute.

I actually thought that he was an outright parody for a period of five years. It never once occurred to me that he was serious...:shock:

Is this the guy that Meat sued for being to similar?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ad-ringer.html

Now an Elton John Tribute act apparently - http://www.eltonjohntribute.co.uk/

Oh good, so he can butcher Eltons songs now, too? :roll:

He started out doing Elton .. got too heavy and switched to Meat .. lost weight after his wife threw him out, and after failing miserably to extort money from Meat for his website domain (where if people assumed he was Meat he encouraged them) he went back to poor Elton ;) He wasn't sued for being a "dead ringer" even though the journalist probably thought it very clever to say so ;) .. he was sued for cyber squattiing! (Given it wasn't really on to try and sue him for being an AWFUL "tribute act", breaching copyright by putting the Bat 2 artwork on his chip van aka "tour bus", and total pain in the ass .. :lmao: )

Also Meat got the website - as meatloaf . org is linked to meatloaf.net!

That'll teach me not to read the article I linked to ::lol:

Not sure if this has been answered, but, getting back on topic, why is the band being billed as the Neverland band, and not the Neverland Express?

Caryl has alluded to it being some sort of legal thing (though I can't imagine exactly why).

Such a shame .net never became a sort of historical hub that could have included all tour dates, photos from these concerts and setlists etc.

There is such a wealth of info that could have been collected into one place. Song lyrics. Info on each album: release dates, chart positions etc.

Instead all that information is spread across fan sites and they mostly will be gone in 10-15 years time I'm guessing.
It will only be Wikipedia and some YouTube videos from then on.

:(

There are various copyright issues as well as interests I think surrounding everything, and some probably go back years. It's one reason why they didn't want information leaking out, and various media setting hares running, before they had everything agreed with all parties connected and finalised. It made them look disorganised when in reality they were working through all the complexities to get everything right, all Ts crossed, before the press announcement.

Paul's posted a taster of the Bat Experience. And as well as the 4 dates we have so far they're booking in the US into 2019 after Caleb has finished his Nov/Dec tour with the TSO.

https://www.facebook.com/TheBatExper...3235187933802/

So if Meat returns down the line will the band be back to being the Neverland Express?

Ie. is it only allowed to be Neverland Express with Meat fronting?

I don't know Dick .. I guess if Meat were to tour again he'd probably use Neverland Express. If at some point he joined them to tell stories and with Caleb still singing (as was rumoured in the leaks earlier), who knows?

At this stage they have a name that reflects who they are, and doesn't imply Meat will be appearing as part of the show, which seems to me important as people can be gullible and make assumptions which would only lead to disappointment .. and no doubt some angry complaints on Meat's page, possibly even from trolls who haven't been to a show but just want to sound off. The Neverland Band identifies them I think as the band Meat has put together over many years, but as not being the Neverland Express backing Meat Loaf .. an important distinction, and one which gives them a discrete identity which they now need to promote and prove to promoters :)