Review Summary: If you are looking for a revolution in Rock n' Roll and an album that will catapult the rock world past Hip-Hop, Rap, and Mainstream Rock... You won't find it.
No one can deny the overwhelming reputation of the great Saul "
Slash" Hudson. Building off of a nasty break-up and feud with former band mate Axl Rose, Slash has formed several line-ups in his post
Guns N' Roses days including
Slash's Snakepit and the Grammy Award Winning
Velvet Revolver. The band he has formed now with former
Mayfield Four and
Alter Bridge front man Myles Kennedy may be the best one yet.
Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators Is:
Slash - Lead Guitar, talk box
Myles Kennedy - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Todd Kerns - Bass, Backing Vocals
Brent Fitz - Drums
How much you love this album will be directly dependent on your expectations for it. This album isn't in the slightest a game changer. It is, as Slash's first solo album displayed on the front cover, good ol' "R & F'n R." Make no mistake, this album has it's share of epic songs, starting with the ball busters like "Apocalyptic Love," and "Halo" to the incredible ballad that is "Far and Away," to the stand-out blend of Classical Music and Hard Rock that is found within the powerful track "Anastasia." If you look at this album as a Pink Floyd or The Who epic, you will be sadly lost in the generic sounds of this album.
Never fear however! If you take Apocalyptic Love at face value, you will find yourself screaming the shrill vocals of Myles Kennedy and wishing to play alongside the great Slash. Slash's legendary licks and riffs stick out far beyond the scope of your average rock album, and if you are a fan of or can even stand the soulful highs and lows of Myles Kennedy's dramatic vocals, you will adore this album. Brent Fitz and Todd Kerns add their share of power and rhythm to build this album into the truly well put together thriller of an album it is. Apocalyptic Love may sound basic, but it is basic done brilliantly.
"Apocalyptic Love" - 3/5 The title track, Apocalyptic Love is an upbeat track, captivated by Myles at his very shrill-est during the verses, mixed with a catchy up beat chorus. Slash delivers a decent solo, but it's only that, nothing to really seal the song.
"One Last Thrill" - 2.5/5 Very possibly the most upbeat track of the album. "One Last Thrill" is one of those "rock and roll roller coaster" of fast lyrics and quick guitar.
"Standing in the Sun" - 4/5 The first stand-out of the album. A much more relaxed hard rock, "Standing in the Sun" mixes strong guitar riffs with a very catchy chorus "You could be standing out in the sun oh the rains coming down / rains coming down." The song is captivated by the first truly significant solo of this album, as Slash lets his fingers go free at the end of this song.
"You're A Lie" - 3/5 The first single released from this album. "You're A Lie" digs deep into that modern Rock grunge influence of a somewhat soft verse led into a blasting Chorus with shrilling lyrics. Probably the greatest part of this song is the echoing guitars found within the Verses, which by far out does the songs very lacking solo.
"No More Heroes" - 2/5 Possibly the most mainstream track of the album, with the massive chorus of many people singing "WHEN YOUR HEROES / TURN TO THE ENEMIES." Personally I find that style very cliche, but if you like it, this is your song.
"Halo" - 3.5/5 This song digs much deeper into the rabbit hole of styles, creating a very metal based approach that is evident from the very beginning line. A loud and hard rocking track that has a better solo then it's two predecessors.
"We Will Roam" - 1.5/5 The closest thing to a filler track on this album, smudged between two of the album's better songs. It serves the purpose of keeping the rock motif going.
"Anastasia" - 5/5 The diamond in the rough, the gem above all gems on this album. Anastasia brings together classical melodies of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor mixed with his own shredding stolen from his own Godfather solo from the Made In Stoke album. Myles and the Conspirators create a well built plat form, but Slash's guitar really out does itself on this track, with a solo that steals the show.
"Not For Me" - 3/5 The opening will remind Alter Bridge fans of tracks like "Burn it Down," with Myles's at his most soulful, as Slash cools down and allows Myles to carry this song by himself, until the end, where Slash makes a very nice reentry as the song ends with a vocal-guitar back and forth.
"Bad Rain" - 2/5 Very heavy track, probably envisioned as a pulse pounder. It does it's job in that aspect, but probably not a song that will stick around in your head for more then 25 seconds.
"Hard and Fast" -3.5/5 Reclaiming the earlier pace of "One Last Thrill" combines very quick guitars with quickly sung lyrics by Myles. This song is much better then it's predecessor though, as Slash's solos here stick out.
"Far and Away" - 4.5/5 Very much the slowest track of the album, rekindling memories of love lost. Very successfully done ballad, with excellent blues/soulful lyrics by Myles and one of the better solos on the album by Slash.
"Shots Fired" - 3/5 Overall, a fitting way to end the album. Ending the way it started, with good old fashioned pulse pounding rock.
Recommended Tracks:
"Standing in the Sun"
"Halo"
"Anastasia" - Seriously, listen to it now, even if you don't want to listen to the whole album.
"Far and Away"
