Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators - World On Fire (Album Review)
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Written by Simon Ramsay
It's fair to say Slash doesn't give a flying fuck about reinventing the rock ‘n' roll wheel. Although he has been known to pimp its rim from time to time, as long as it revolves with time honoured power and fluency, he's a happy cat. And, after masterfully exploring every crevice of the hard rock landscape on this epic new album, he should be ecstatic.
The former Guns N' Roses guitarist has clearly found another musical soulmate in the thoroughly decent Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy. Along with drummer Brent Fitz and bassist Todd Kerns, the confidence, high octane ferocity and sparkling chemistry they exhibited on 2012's 'Apocalyptic Love' is even stronger second time out.
As the album roars to life with the air-tearing title track and Shadow Life's sinister stomp, there are echoes of Slash's previous work, but his growth as a composer and musician is evident as he shoots new life into the veins of rock ‘n’ roll's rich traditions.
Witness Wicked Stone delivering post-millennial thunder to the swaggering grooves he brought to Paradise City or how Dirty Girl's raunchy cadence marries 1970s Aerosmith attitude to a sparkling melodic pay off.
Most importantly, he never overpowers those around him and gives each song what it needs, encompassing different textures and moods on the snotty Stone Blind, the spooky The Unholy and Bent To Fly’s Knockin On Heaven's Door vibe. That said, this isn't just the guitarist's show.
On their previous release, Kennedy was often singing so high the result was like nails dragging down a chalkboard. His voice is gratingly thin in that register and it felt like he was trying too hard to be Slash's new Axl Rose. This time, he asserts his own vocal identity in magnificent fashion, while also unfurling monster hooks that drag the term stadium rock into the modern day. If radio DJs develop decent taste and start playing rock songs again, the choruses of Automatic Overdrive, Withered Delilah, 30 Years To Life and the The Dissident will own the airwaves.
Within the hard rock ballpark, some nice twists and turns keep things fresh and interesting. Beneath The Savage Sun's Alice In Chains clang explodes into a meaty feast of metal riffage before a Dazed And Confused Led Zeppelin breakdown and some incendiary shredding. Battleground's tortured turmoil about a relationship in crisis resolves with a Beatles-esque communal sing along that, should Paul McCartney stop closing every televised concert with Hey Jude, will be a perfect successor.
With 17 tracks and a near 80 minute run time, 'World On Fire' has fallen prey to the unhealthy modern trend of featuring too much material. But although less would be more, the consistent quality means only instrumental Safari Inn, Too Far Gone and Iris Of The Storm could be sacrificed, and even they have their charms.
Finding the time to digest this monolithic record may be a hefty undertaking, but it's worth it as you won't hear too many better rock albums in 2014. Devastatingly well executed and deliciously entertaining, this is easily the best thing Slash has done since 'Appetite For Destruction'.
Slash Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon November 10 2014 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Fri November 28 2014 - MANCHESTER Phones 4u Arena
Sat November 29 2014 - LEEDS first direct Arena
Mon December 01 2014 - BIRMINGHAM LG Arena
Tue December 02 2014 - LONDON SSE Arena Wembley
Thu December 04 2014 - GLASGOW SSE Hydro
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