Slash - "Apocalyptic Love" Review

The album opener is the title track 'Apocalyptic Love' and is straight into a typical bluesy rock riff and once Myles Kennedy's vocals come in its clear this one is a sing-a-long especially with chorus hitting before the first minute is up. Containing all the dynamics required to make a standard Slash hit this track is good, perhaps not a stand out one though. My main worry is that it has too many changes to make it memorable but that being said, the solo rocks and Kennedy hits some sweet notes.

'One Last Thrill' certainly starts off thrilling and could've been a Velvet Revolver track as you can't help but think Myles took a page out of the Scott Weiland book of melodies for the verse! Followed by 'Standing in the Sun' which has something very familiar about the opening riff, I can't put my finger on it, but I'm here thinking about late 90's sci-fi movies. The chorus is catchy and the guitar work is among the best in the entire album.

The first single off the album 'Youre a Lie' has all the elements of a stand out track. Super simple but effective riff to open then the harmonies join in, followed by low vocals. Slowly it builds up and once you get to the chorus its all guns blazing! See the post below for the music video! Track 5 is 'No More Heroes' and sounds like it should be on a Superhero soundtrack simply for the lyrical content. Potentially an anthem if promoted right, if not, we'll forget about this one very soon.

'Halo' is one of the heavier tracks and Myles' lyrics are somewhat more dark and personal. Personally love the chorus and musically it's got groove, depth and some excellent touches. I reckon this song is gonna slay live! 'We Will Roam' has a radio friendly feel about it. I wouldn't be surprised if this one hits the airwaves but it's certainly not one of the strongest tracks on the album. It lacks a certain edge despite the commercial appeal.

My favourite, 'Anastasia', is perhaps the most interesting of songs thanks to Slash's homage to classical music. A beautiful nylon string intro followed by guitar line that screams Bach! This song has some serious guitar chops and Myles seems more at home when singing along to riffs that have more meat. Perhaps not a single but I reckon it will the one that fans talk about in years to come.

Followed by another favourite and possibly the song that will command stadium tours, 'Not For Me' displays all the makings of an anthem. As the song develops it climaxes with huge choruses and guitar licks. One of the weaker songs for me is 'Bad Rain'. It has it's positives but is far too generic for my liking and I get the feeling it is more of a filler than a killer track.

'Hard And Fast' has Slash written all over it. Super rock n roll riff to kick it off, great groove and Myles' high vocals are the perfect compliment. Sure, not every track can have this vibe but this is what I hear in my head when I think of Slash. Having got this far I had forgotten that there was a ballad on this album but then 'Far And Away' starts and you feel like kicking back and chilling on a beach with some wine and pinchitos. Not much to say about this one other than it's a beautiful song. Lyrically simple but engaging and of course Slash gets his moment with a sweet guitar solo that has all his classic guitar touches.

'Shots Fired' hits me so hard that I think it could be the surprise track. Cool riffs and vocal melodies leave me impressed from the start. The chorus is instantly memorable and I've got no doubt it will be sung by the thousands if they play it live. One of the faster guitar solos is thrown in and then a last extended chorus to end what will be a fan favourite on the live circuit.

I got a couple of bonus tracks with this version of the album and 'Carolina' is good enough to be on the regular version. It's another classic Slash effort and once again Myles does everything right. I realy can't imagine this album being sung by anyone else. The last song is 'Crazy Life' and you can hear the live element of the recording process here with the band kicking off together. Some cow bell gets thrown in for good meassure as another stomping chorus full of harmonies and melody makes this song another potential fan sing-a-long.

All in all this album might not be another 'Appetite for Destruction' but let's look at the positives. Slash has found the right singer to work with for the next few years in Myles Kennedy. If he had got someone similar to Axl we would be comparing notes but although Myles has a high register he doesnt fall into the trap of trying to sound like Axl. Slash is still churning out super riffs and solos despite working his ass off for the best part of 30 years and I'm already looking forward to hearing more new material. This album isn't a classic but it's a lot better than most of the crap being released and it's already growing on me.

8/10