Given the current climate of the music industry, it’s hard to come across rock that sounds so primal and fun. Fortunately, Slash has us covered when he serves up the treat of his third solo album, “World on Fire.”
Like the last album, it features the mighty Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Slash has always been known as a masterful guitarist when it comes to in-your-face, down-and-dirty, sleazy rock n’ roll, and his latest work is certainly in line with the legend.
Throughout the album, Slash mixes styles, from a bluesy groove intro on “Beneath the Savage Sun” to an acoustic flamenco-y mellow arpeggio on “Bent to Fly.” He cranks up the distortion with a smack-you-in-the-face heavy, quick grooveable riff, like on “Withered Delilah.”
Come for the riffs, stay for the vocals. Myles Kennedy has been Slash’s vocalist of choice for a couple of years now and for good reason –– the man has pipes. His voice meshes well with Slash’s guitars but never steals the show. It’s a sound best honed on the anvil of hard rock. On a song like “Wicked Stone,” Kennedy starts it slow in his mid-range before belting out a chorus that really shows off what he can do vocally. The title track does another phenomenal job of letting Kennedy run with his talents.
There’s only one thing bothersome about the album: It sounds much like the last one, “Apocalyptic Love.” Maybe that’s Slash finding some stability in his vocalist and the whole crew coming into its own identity behind the top hat-wearing virtuoso. Or maybe it’s a slip into the familiar and easy.
Delicious tracks are scattered throughout the 17-song album, and there is really no string of them that stands out as a magnificent pairing. Since Slash can play a variety of blues and rock styles, there’s something in there for either crowd, but it’s limited to just that, because that’s what Slash does best.
_MOVE gives “World on Fire” 3.5 out of 5 stars._