Intended as a worthy follow-up to Bat Out Of Hell, this album eventually appeared in 1981 and was Meat's second album. In the interim between Bat Out Of Hell and Deadringer, Meat had suffered much following the success of his debut. All songs are penned by the legendary Jim Steinman (who at the time was working on his own album 'Bad For Good'; Meat walked away from 'Bad For Good' but has subsequently recorded nearly all of the tracks on it) and would not be until 1993 until we another Meat Loaf album would be written entirely by Steinman. Todd Rundgren was no longer responsible for the production of the album. However, there are some classic tracks. The album rocks in with 'Peel Out' followed by a Meat classic 'I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us' which appears to be a kind invitation by Meat to his best friend to show his woman a good time on his behalf. The song winds up to a crescendo before Meat winds it down and then back up again. It's great stuff. Meat slows the pace a little on 'More Than You Deserve' when his 'good woman' appears to be putting it around a bit with more than one lover at a time. The next two tracks are wonderful:'I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back' is not one of his most widely-known known but, for me, one of his best. Again, he winds it up before you feel and share with him his anger and hurt with the effective sound of breaking glass (a bottle?) followed by a slow, emotional section before he winds the tempo back up again. 'Read 'Em And Weep' is more well - known and is more of a ballad, but is full of emotion. 'Nocturnal Pleasure' is a monologue and appears to be an attempt to emulate the dialogue at the start of 'You Took The Words---' before the well-known and sucessful title track. 'Everything Is Permitted' works well as a closer.
A worthy follow-up? Yes, just about. Not as good, but enjoyable, nevertheless.