3 Bats Live

A companion to the 2007 live home video of the same name, 3 Bats Live finds Meat Loaf on a supporting tour for the Jim Steinman-less Bat Out of Hell III, running through selections from all three bats. It should come as little surprise that the songs from the Steinman albums shine brightly but the material from the third record is a bit better live than on tape, as it lacks the cold metallic sheen that made the entire enterprise seemed forced. Still, this is one for the fans, the ones who already own the video, and there may not be that many of them that want to hear this perfectly fine but not exceptionally inspiring music on its own apart from the visuals. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine