Bob Kulick: Skeletons in the Closet (Vanity Music Group)

Beneath what has to be the worst album cover this year (sorry, but that never should have been approved), we have the first proper solo album from guitarist/songwriter Bob Kulick after an impressive five decades in the music business. Kulick is perhaps best known for his behind the scenes work with KISS, but his time with Balance, Meat Loaf and about a million other projects is also noteworthy. I’m just surprised it took this long to see a solo album from him.

Kulick is in good company here. Guest vocalists and musicians on Skeletons in the Closet include David Glen Eisley (Giuffria), Andrew Freeman (Last in Line), Robin McAuley (MSG), Dennis St. James (Balance), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), Vinnie Appice (way too many bands to list), Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot), Bobby Rock (Nelson), Jay Schellen (Hurricane) and Eric Singer (KISS).

Skeletons in the Closet sounds exactly what you think it would, given the man writing the songs and the guests he has assembled. It is, for the most part, a straight-up hard rock album with plenty of punch, plenty of melody and some flashy guitar work. It hits right in that Quiet Riot/Mr. Big/UFO/Winery Dogs rock n’ roll sound, though some songs are more tailored to the singers’ strengths. Dee Snider’s track sounds like a Twisted Sister tune, and David Glen Eisley’s could pass for Giuffria. The only head-scratcher is a tongue-in-cheek cover of the “Goldfinger” theme. The rest of the album is rock-solid.

It’s great to see that after more than 50 years, Bob Kulick can still deliver a well-crafted melodic rock album. Skeletons in the Closet is another example of his talent, and is just a really enjoyable collection of rock songs from some familiar names in the scene. Fans of Kulick’s previous work will obviously want to check this out, but just about anyone who enjoys the ’80s melodic hard rock style should find something to love about this album.