L.A.Guns: The Devil You Know

L.A. Guns? They're still going? Really? Wow. Gotta be honest they didn't make much of an impression on me first time round. I would definitely take issue with their record company's description of them being, “ truly one of the great American hard rock bands of the last 30 years. “ Not willing to forego the hyperbole Frontiers also suggest that, “Sonically, this album covers a lot of ground and incorporates influences from Black Sabbath to Led Zeppelin to Kyuss to The Hellacopters, all while distinctly sounding like L.A. Guns. The band is rejuvenated and are literally taking no prisoners!� Quite. That's a whole lot of diverse bands right there.

Having noted all that there is quite a lot to enjoy on The Devil You Know but there's a bit of less fun material to wade through in order to fully enjoy the album. When its good its really, really good, as if it's 1987 all over again but when the band venture away from their signature sound such as on the quite dreary and dreadful title track things go somewhat awry. So dirge-like is said track that I had to force myself not to skip it! That said, "Needle to the Bone" which comes straight after is top quality sleaze with Tracii Guns blazing up and down the fretboard like a man possessed. "Going High" keeps things strong in the middle of the album although "Down That Hole" drags the end of the album down.

No doubt the band has tried to evolve and good on them for doing so, its just that what they are best known for is what they do best!

Track Listing:

1. Rage
2. Stay Away
3. Loaded Bomb
4. The Devil You Know
5. Needle To The Bone
6. Going High
7. Gone Honey
8. Don’t Need To Win
9. Down That Hole
10. Another Season In Hell
11. Boom (Bonus Track)

Added: May 13th 2019
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1044
Language: english

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