I hear much about the amount of ballads on this album, but nobody says it also has 15 songs on the standard edition, 20 on the deluxe. So even if you take out 4 ballads it’s still 11 rocking tunes. It is not a perfect album, but it is damn good. The production is warm and not over compressed. You hear everything. All the band members (still original) write and contribute. Many different sides and stuff that hints at classic Aerosmith. “Street Jesus”, “Luv XXX”, “Beautiful”, “Out Go The Lights”, “Oh Yeah”, all just vintage sounding Aerosmith. Joe Perry on vocals for two tracks “Freedom Fighter” and “Something” which also features Tyler on drums. The Zeppelin-ish Legendary Child features Tyler in top form, spitting out the story of the band in a way only he can. Monster riffing and the ageless Joey Kramer laying down the signature pocket like only he can. Having seen three live shows so far on the tour, the band STILL gets it done on stage too. Great accomplishment for a band at this stage in their career and after waiting so long for it they delivered. For me the best Aerosmith album since Pump. Also check out the band drawing in the CDs booklet, it was done by Slash when he was a kid. Pretty cool!

I loved the last Slash album, and my favorite songs were the ones with Myles Kennedy singing. So I was thrilled that the live band he had on that tour now is a real band and has made a full cohesive album of brilliant hard rock. They even have a name, The Conspirators. It’s clear that the couple year touring with Slash served this band well as this is the most band feeling album Slash has made in a long time. The sound is warm and live with Slash’s solos panned to one side and Myles Kennedy (a great guitarist in his own right) panned to the other. Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz are locked in as a rhythm section, holding down a tight pocket under Slash’s riffing and Kennedy’s soaring vocals. “Anastasia” an instant classic on this one. Other highlights include “Bad Rain”, “Standing In The Sun”, and “Halo” to name a few. To me this is Slash’s best work top to bottom since Appetite and the band is great live. Hope they build a great catalog with this group. If you are a Guns fan this album and band are probably more in line with that groups classic sound than anything else to come along since.

An incredible, relentless, pounding thrash metal album that may be my favorite from this highly underrated band since Taking Over. Overkill have made a string of solid albums lately, but this is just next level. It is uncompromising speed metal at its finest. Production and mix are incredible, the riffing just builds and builds, great songs, great playing. Huge props to drummer Ron Lipnicki who just crushes on this album with a phenomenal performance. The album is loud and crunchy but not over compressed and the album has great stereo separation. Highlights include “Electric Rattlesnake”, “Black Daze”, “Save Yourself”, and the opener “Come & Get It”. Not a bad track on the album and the most classic sounding speed metal for a new release in a very long time. The total package. If you are looking for a new but old school thrash sounding album this is it. Get a neck brace because it kicks your ass from top to bottom. Instant metal classic. Can’t wait for the tour with Testament.