Can you name another rock band from the eighties that can come close to matching the quantity and quality of output of L.A. F’n Guns? April 14th marks the release of Black Diamonds, their 4th album in 8 years and what an album.
Chemistry
Back in 2017, I had the pleasure of writing a review for The Missing Peace, the long-awaited reunion record when Tracii and Phil put aside their differences and all was right in the universe. The word of the day within that review was “Chemistry”! There is something magical that happens when these two make music together. Something completely intangible that is hard to explain but for some reason they are more than the sum of their parts.
Consistency
I had no idea that this was only the beginning with the band churning out an album every two years. The Devil You Know (2019) and then Checkered Past (2021) took us out of the pandemic. Whoever would have predicted that this often volatile band would be pumping out quality records this late into the game? To say I was excited to hear 2023’s addition, Black Diamonds would be an understatement. I have been checking off the days like a 5-year-old at Christmas.
Cornucopia
Black Diamonds is a perfect cornucopia of everything I love about L.A. Guns. This might just be the most diverse record of their career. Sleaze? C’mon, this is L.A. Guns after all, they damn near created the genre. Classic head-banging rockers? They are here. Beautiful heart-wrenching ballad? It’s here. Psychedelic 60’s influence rock? It’s here too! Snotty attitude-riddled punk? It’s all here!! There is something for everyone and it’s an auditory feast of epic proportions if you give it chance to breathe. I go back to that word chemistry. Tracii delivers some of his best guitar work yet and Phil‘s vocals either soar like an eagle or spit like a cobra depending on the song.
Highlights and Lowlifes
WARNING – There are zero skippable songs on this album. Best consumed in its entirety as a complete listening experience, preferably with good speakers or headphones. That said, I will spotlight some of my favourite selections.
Opening track “You Betray” is a perfect opener. Just a hip check of sleazy goodness to get you primed for the rock ride you are about to take.
“Lowlife” begins with Tracii‘s guitar on phase before kicking into a burner of a rock song that I would love to see in the live set. Fist pumping, head-banging chorus and Phil spitting the vocals with reckless abandon.
“Babylon”: if The Cult and the Sex Pistols wrote a song together it might sound something like this. Phil seems to channel his inner Alice Cooper at the end of this song.
“Gonna Lose”: Can you say L.A. Zeppelin? Holy crap, this is my favourite tune by far. Starting soft and slow it explodes at about the one-minute mark into a Page influenced orgasm of guitar perfection. I have often referred to David Lee Roth‘s song “Yankee Rose” as the greatest song Van Halen never wrote. I might say be saying something similar with this track.
So there you are, this review has been brought to you by the three C’s.
Chemistry; Tracii and Phil make magic when they are together. This chemistry is missing on the albums they are not together. Consistency; since the reunion in 2017 they have released 4 quality rock albums and I can’t think of another band from back in the day coming even close to that kind of output. Lastly Cornucopia; referring to the musical diversity found on Black Diamonds. It’s refreshing and exciting to see a band writing to please themselves and damn the torpedoes. Can’t wait for 2025’s release.
One last thing I wanted to mention. Not sure who is the creative force behind the last four album covers but the artistic plays on the iconic L.A. Guns logo have been absolutely brilliant.
BUY: Amazon.com
