Slash
Slash
Posted 7/30

Campus Correspondent Review By Hunter Embry

While Guns ‘N Roses and Velvet Revolver both ended messily due to disintegrating relationships between the bands’ lead singers and their musicians, one element has pushed itself to light with Slash’s self-titled solo release. The guitarist was probably the most consistent and essential part to the success of each band. Slash’s songwriting, tone, style and image is as unique as any in rock n’ roll’s 50-year history and his latest solo effort is proof. He’s written a diverse collection of songs with a variety of people and has managed to hit the mark with most.

The opening track “Ghost,” written and performed with Ian Astbury of The Cult, is classic Slash – sweaty, aggressive, riff-heavy rock with Marshall-shaking power chords and a catchy chorus, reminiscent of “Paradise City.” Iggy Pop, who sounds eerily similar to early ‘90s Axel Rose on “We’re All Gonna Die,” is one of many old rockers to make an appearance on Slash. Ozzy graces the dark, gothic ‘80s-styled “Crucify the Dead,” while Lemmy lends a familiar growl over the heavily punk-vibed “Doctor Alibi.”

But the most headway is made on songs featuring today’s modern singers. Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother gives a hauntingly fresh performance the blues-rocker “By The Sword,” which sounds like a fresh take on early Zeppelin. Slash’s blues-rooted playing is evident again on “Back From Cali,” where the crisply distorted finger-picking is emphasized and stretched by Myles Kennedy’s soaring vocals that draw a strong comparison to a young Chris Cornell, who also lays a hand on the album.