Guns 'N'Roses & Stone Temple Pilots were two bands that seemed to divide people. You either really liked them or they didn't really do anything for you. What happens when you combine both bands?

Velvet Revolver has Slash,Duff McKagan & Matt Sorum from GNR & Scott Weiland from STP along with Dave Kushner(ex Wasted Youth & Dave Navarro's band)on guitar. This album has been one of the most eagerly awaited of the year so far & doesn't disappoint.
Sucker Train Blues starts things off in fine style. Sounding like GNR at their best it's a great rockin' track to open the album(& live show?). Do It For The Kids which follows keeps the pace up followed by another rockin' track Big Machine. No let up in the riffing stakes here as this one has riffs aplenty.

Illegal Song reminds me of STP meets Janes Addiction & is another good song. Spectacle is my favourite song on the album. Pumping music combined with a catchy "chorus" make this a memorable listen. It will make a great live track & single if they release it. Fall To Pieces is the 1st ballad on the album & ticks every box in the "Classic Rock Ballad" checklist .Expect this to do well in the US. Great solo from Slash on this one.

Headspace is heavy in an Alice In Chains way which is no bad thing in my book. Superhuman is another AIC sounding track with weird lyrics. Some of the lyrics on the album are "out there" to say the least! Set Me Free will be familiar to anyone who got the July '04 issue of Classic Rock (whaddaya mean you didn't get it?)as it was on the free CD. It rocks out without being outstanding. You Got No Right is another ballad which could easily be a single. Another good melodic solo from Slash on this one. His playing throughout the album is fantastic.

Slither could be AIC or STP. Crackin' riff & the production is nice 'n'heavy. Turn this one up! Dirty Little Thing heads in the same direction as Sucker Train Blues & will be brutal live. Loving The Alien is the final ballad on the album. This will be a certain hit in the US If they release it with the right video.Expect a collage of live shots(some slow motion) or the band playing in the middle of the desert. You'll see what I mean when you hear it. Slash peels off one of those "classic" style solos he's so good at before it heads back into the chorus. Fantastic way to end things but instead they throw in a live version of Bodies (Sex Pistols) which is nice & raw. It sticks close to the original.

If they can keep this together we could be witnessing the birth of the next "Big" rock band but much will depend on Scott Weiland's ability to stay off the drugs & out of jail. A storming debut from a very promising new band.

They're getting out there & playing live as well with dates in Europe including UK in Aug/Sept. No Irish dates as yet but you never know..

BEN BYRNE

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BAND HERE