By the time
Vince Neil got around to releasing his second solo album, the good-time, sleazy glam-metal of the '80s had transformed into a dark, dour grind in the '90s. His debut record,
Exposed, didn't acknowledge the change, and it didn't perform very well.
Carved in Stone does try to keep up to date, much like the eponymous effort from his former band,
Mötley Crüe. Like that album,
Carved in Stone is massively flawed. Experimenting with hip-hop and industrial beats, as well as found sounds and samples,
Neil has created a record that appeals neither to an imaginary new audience, nor to his old fans. The album has its moments, which all occur when he sticks to his tried-and-true three-chord sleaze-metal, but the album is by and large a failure. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine