Steve Steinman - 'Take a Leap of Faith' Release date 2 August 2021

Steve, of course, got his name and built his reputation by performing the songs of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, initially in a TV talent programme and subsequently in his hugely popular and long-running Meat-themed theatre shows, of which the current ‘Anything for Love’ production is selling out fast for its Covid-rescheduled dates. Unsurprisingly, most of the new music he’s created with collaborators Steve and Aly Etherington reflects the mad-genius music he has been immersed in for years, but this is no facsimile. There’s freshness, originality and quality in their work and I would go as far as to say that this is better any album that Meat Loaf has ever released, outside of the Bat trilogy.

Take a listen to the fiery title track for starters. It roars off the starting grid in a blizzard of guitar riffing and drums, augmented by trademark Steinman-esque harmonies with a splash of Queen and, of course, Steve’s commanding and expressive vocals. The other big-hitter is the seven-minute epic “I Don’t Know About Love”. Coming in with a tasteful clarinet intro and liberally embellished with saxophone and orchestration throughout, it develops into an anthemic “Objects in the Rear-View Mirror” meets Heart’s “All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You” tale that would bring a tear to a glass eye.

Of the shorter songs, “Never Leave a Lover Behind” is a guaranteed crowd pleaser while the less overtly-Meaty “Survive” features sumptuous bass, piano and guitar courtesy of the top-quality players that Steve has always surrounded himself with. Emily Clark is another of his regular on-stage foils and she pops up to take the female part in the concluding sax-fest duet “Northern Star”.

It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll, especially if you take Steve’s route, but this album proves that if you’ve got guts, talent and great songs, you’ve got half a chance and tonight Matthew, he’s smashed it right out of the ballpark.