Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose
by Meat Loaf
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Oct 31, 2006
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    There are moments on Bat Out of Hell III to convince even die-hard minimalists that behemoth is better.
  2. AllMusic
    40
    That he fails is not the fault of his individual performance; it's the fault of botched execution.
  3. Amazon.com
    60
    More a pop orchestral mishmash than a well-defined rock opus, Bat III is dark, seemingly hopeless at times, and über dramatic. Oddly enough, that's also its saving grace.
  5. Blender
    40
    Producer Desmond Child trips up the Meatman by valuing metal flash over the altruism of want-you-need-you humanity.
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    If the original Bat Out Of Hell was Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run as scored by Richard Wagner, this is even more theatrical. [Nov 2006, p.140]
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  7. The Guardian
    80
    The whole thing is, of course, ridiculous. But Meat's beat manifesto should be treasured as the last chapter of a remarkable rock trilogy.
  8. Billboard
    70
    Amid all the pomp and circumstance, Loaf delivers an album fans are going to love. [4 Nov 2006]
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  9. Slant Magazine
    30
    The results are disastrous.
  10. Rolling Stone
    40
    For the most part, the old magical feeling sure ain't coming back. [2 Nov 2006, p.78]
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  11. NOW Magazine
    80
    This is a musical just waiting to be staged.
  12. Village Voice
    30
    The Diane Warren and Desmond Child faux-Steinman stuff is far worse, but the inescapable message of Bat III is that even Meat's former partner hasn't been at peak strength for at least a decade.
  13. Mojo
    40
    [It] lacks conceptual cohesion. [Nov 2006, p.112]
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  14. Spin
    40
    Meat's voice is there, the cover art rules, but something vital is missing. [Nov 2006, p.102]
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Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 5 out of 31
  1. Thomas_Stadler
    Jan 5, 2016
    10
    Every song in this album feels like it is a rock masterpiece, from the bellowing 'Monster is Loose' to the poetic 'all coming back to me now'.Every song in this album feels like it is a rock masterpiece, from the bellowing 'Monster is Loose' to the poetic 'all coming back to me now'. This is by far my favourite Meat Loaf album, which is made more impressive by the powerful vocals from the 52 year old singer.… Full Review »
  2. BrutusO
    Jan 30, 2007
    9
    I was never much of a fan of Bat Out Of Hell 1, though I have a mild affection for the second one. So it was quite a surprise to me when I I was never much of a fan of Bat Out Of Hell 1, though I have a mild affection for the second one. So it was quite a surprise to me when I liked the third one so much. Sure, it is mostly stupid adolescent melodrama. They all are. But isn't that why people liked it in the first place? And buried in amongst all the operatic over-the-top atmospherics, there are actually some pretty lovely songs if you care to listen. And the rock is timelessly heavy (admittedly out of date, but then, it always was). Basically, if I dared to put my "cool" persona aside for ten minutes, I would have to admit I actually enjoyed this album more than the latest Wolfmother, Killers, Gorillaz, Jet and Oasis albums put together. A guilty pleasure.… Full Review »
  3. KelleyE
    Jan 16, 2007
    3
    This CD is a mess. Jim Stienman insists on recycling songs once again. This is the third time "It's all coming back" has been recorded This CD is a mess. Jim Stienman insists on recycling songs once again. This is the third time "It's all coming back" has been recorded and "Bad for Good" has been recorded at least that many times and parts of it more than that. The compositions sound like someone gave a a freshman music major an orchestra to play with and they got carried away. Meat Loaf's voice is starting to fail and he can no longer hit the high notes. Lowering the key only makes it sound like Tom Jones singing Stienman. Save your money.… Full Review »
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