10 Best Hard Rock Comeback Albums Ever
1. Bat Out Of Hell II - Meat Loaf
In 1977, Meat Loaf and his songwriter/composer partner Jim Steinman wowed the world with Bat Out Of Hell, a hard rock opera which went on to become one of the bestselling albums of all time. From there though, it all went downhill - drug abuse led to Meat suffering vocal problems, and creative and financial differences resulted with him and Steinman parting ways. By the end of the 80s, the singer had almost been reduced to club status and it looked like he was finished in the industry.
So in 1993, the world was shocked when Steinman and Meat Loaf reunited, and released Bat Out Of Hell II - a follow-up to the original album, with a mixture of new singles and other tracks recreated from Steinman's solo work. Despite the odds (the music industry had changed drastically by this point and some music execs reportedly thought the idea was a joke), Bat II went on to sell 14 million copies worldwide.
To this day, the album remains a beautifully crafted piece of work, with some of the greatest melodies of all time. 'I Would Do Anything For Love' is Steinman's magnum opus - a 12 minute fairy tale with some of Meat Loaf's best vocals in over a decade. 'Rock N Roll Dreams' is a prayer to rock music and a wonderful tribute, while 'Objects In The Rear View Mirror' draws inspiration from the singer's often-tragic childhood.
The album put Meatloaf and Steinman back into the public eye, and their music continues to be used in popular culture today, especially with the creation of the Bat Out Of Hell musical in the West End and on Broadway.