A Different kind
of truth
Van Halen
Interscope
Rating: - 8/10
Veteran Rock n
roll legends return… with spectacular results
“I told you I was coming back”
croons David Lee Roth on the track Blood
and Fire, from this alone you should have grasped that Diamond Dave has
returned and is performing a star jump for the first time in over 28 years. As proven with recent classic rock bands
returning and making albums, the results are mixed. They can be really good
like Sonic Boom by Kiss or they can be the biggest pile of horse crap the world
has ever seen like Chinese Democracy by Guns n Roses. I am incredibly pleased
to say that the Van Halen album is as good and maybe on par with Sonic Boom.
After the
commercial gluttony of the Van Hager era (5150’s a good album but there is
little more than a few miscellaneous tracks) and the tragic and completely
terrible Gary Cherone era which is best left unspoken of. After a hugely
successful tour in which they managed to make as much money as Chelsea have
wasted on players by just touring America (im not complaining but they’ve not
been to the UK since 1995, so I believe were owed a show… lets say Sonisphere).
The album
had to be great in order to live up to the hype and expectations following the
hugely successful tour, which thankfully it is. The 80’s commercial sheen has
been replaced with a gritty but well produced sound and the tacky keyboards
have been replaced by a more stripped down sound similar to the sound of the bands
1978 debut. DLR proves he has not lost it; his bizarre lyrics which are
delivered with a huge amount of character and charisma. Songs like Stay frosty
(an ode to Ice cream man from the debut album) is both eccentric and bizarre whilst being a incredibly well
written song, However it does sound like the Hula Hula song from South Park. The
trio of Van Halens Eddie, Alex and Eddie’s son Wolfgang who replaces Michael
Antony on Bass all shine on this album. Alex’s thundering rhythms combine
effortlessly with Wolfgang’s groove bass lines, for such a young man he proves
he can play and easily fills the shoes of Michael Antony. However the highlight
of the album is Eddie’s solo’s and riffs, many people doubted after his recent
alcohol problems might have hampered his guitar playing ability. They couldn’t
have been more wrong, Eddie sounds more inspired and energetic than he has
since the mid 1980’s, showing every guitarist in the world why he is and will
always be one of the greatest guitarists in the world. On tracks such as China
Town and The Trouble with Never Eddie’s souring solo’s show off how good he still is, without sounding forced
or ever showing off.
Overall
this album is a solid return from the band, by returning to their roots they
have managed to remind the world why the band are one of the biggest bands in
the world. Now please can we have some UK shows please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Influenced by Kiss, Led Zeppelin,
The Jimmy Hendrix experience
Also try: - Sonic Boom – Kiss
Runnin wild – Airbourne
Dr Feelgood – Motley Crue
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