BOLAN – Gargoyle Of The Garden State

Forget about everything that’s been said about Skid Row since Sebastian Bach was fired from the band. Everyone has issues; deal with it! Instead, let’s focus on the music, for once. More specifically, Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan’s debut solo album, Gargoyle of the Garden State, which was released on June 12, 2026, through earMUSIC. It was produced by Nick Raskulinecz and features an incredible lineup of musicians who make guest appearances on the record. The guest lineup includes Corey Taylor, Danko Jones, Nuno Bettencourt, Damon Johnson, Steve Conte, Scotti Hill, Dave “Snake” Sabo, and Rob Hammersmith. The latter three are Bolan’s Skid Row bandmates. Pouring his heart and soul into the project, Bolan plays most of the instruments and does most of the singing on Gargoyle of the Garden State.

The album is an absolute blast with its modern flair and unapologetic punk rock attitude. It’s a good album to put on after coming home from a bad day at work and just want some escapism. All of the songs are so simple and catchy that they’ll automatically be stuck in listeners’ brains after one listen. “Anything But You” is full of life and rebellion, and as crazy as it sounds, if Smash Mouth covered it for the Shrek (2001) soundtrack, no one would’ve suspected it was written by the guy who wrote “Can’t Stand the Heartache” from Skid Row’s debut album. The toughness in Bolan’s voice fits the punk rock genre perfectly. The lyrics for “At War with Myself” are depressing, but the melodies are infectious, and it’s got a danceable beat, but in a very chaotic way. Jones shares lead vocals with Bolan for that song.

“Bridges,” sung by Conte, is the album’s power ballad, so it feels out of place on the record. Despite that, it’s got a great hook, the acoustic guitar melodies are gorgeous, and the chorus with the “ooh ooh ooh” backing vocals is catchy as heck. “Pretty Hell” has a rock steady beat, the guitar solo is amazing, and it’s got a thumping bass line. “Rock and Roll Star” is an Oasis cover, and my gosh, Bolan does an excellent job with the song! The lyrics follow the cliché formula of a kid wanting to be a rock star, despite everyone thinking he’s wasting his time, but punk rock is all about rebellion, so who cares! “Devil in the White” is very straightforward and to the point, probably because it’s the shortest song on the album; it’s two and a half minutes long. There’s not much to add about the song other than it’s a total headbanger, and it would work well in an underground club.

As mentioned earlier, the songs are a lot of fun and provide a great escapism from a world that is far from perfect. The album’s raw and mean production fits the toughness and punk rock aesthetic that Bolan was going for. The guitar playing is insanely tasteful. The dirty guitar playing gives off old-school, classic rock vibes, which provide an interesting contrast to the modern alternative feel of the record. None of the ‘80s glossiness is present whatsoever. For those who are interested in headbanging punk rock with catchy vocal melodies, give Bolan’s Gargoyle of the Garden State a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. Anything But You
2. At War with Myself
3. Memory
4. See You on the Other Side
5. Bridges
6. Jet Black Universe
7. Big Stick
8. Pretty Hell
9. Rock and Roll Star (Oasis cover)
10. Devil in the White
11. Walk Away

Lineup

Rachel Bolan – lead vocals and most instruments on all tracks
Corey Taylor – lead vocals on track 7
Danko Jones – lead vocals and guitars on track 2
Nuno Bettencourt – guitars on track 6
Damon Johnson – guitars on tracks 2, 3, 7, 8, and 11
Steve Conte – lead vocals on track 5
Scotti Hill – guitars on track 9
Dave “Snake” Sabo – guitars on track 4
Rob Hammersmith – drums

Check out the lyric video for “Memory” from Bolan’s Gargoyle of the Garden State album!