There are but a few albums that were released in my teenage years that I can vividly recall every detail about purchasing. The self-titled L.A. Guns album is one of them. It was Monday, January 4th, 1988. I grabbed a bus to Toronto to do some “cassette” shopping. Can’t remember any of the other titles I may have purchased that day, but the entire trip was to acquire the debut album from this new band.
I had already heard the advance single “Sex Action”, had read all the hype in the pages of Hit Parader and Circus magazine. Was captivated with the badass photos of these ragtag electric gypsies and I couldn’t wait to hear this album.
The story Of L.A. Guns is quite a tale and far too long to cover in what is supposed to be a review of their new album Leopard Skin released April 4th, 2025, on Cleopatra Records. However, before we get to the present, a little backstory is in order to understand my personal relationship with this band that helped create the genre of 80s sleaze metal.
Just Press Play…
By the time I arrived back home from my day in the big city, my battered, yellow waterproof Sony Walkman had quite a workout and L.A. Guns had won a dedicated fan for life.
I witnessed them from the second row opening up for AC/DC in ’88 and then front row when they headlined at Toronto’s Rock n Roll Heaven in ’89. The latter of these shows might have been the single most intense and electrifying live performance I have ever seen. It also cemented Mr. Tracii Guns as my favourite guitar player of all time.
Many, many years have passed, and for many of those years L.A. Guns were a splintered and broken unit with different versions and lineups keeping the songs alive. Although I felt fortunate to still be able to catch whichever version of the band live whenever I could, it always felt as something was missing. The magic and chemistry of Mr. Tracii Guns alongside Mr. Phil Lewis was indeed the “missing piece” or maybe that was “peace“.
Fast forward to 2017. I was ecstatic when I learned the news that these two gentlemen had patched their personal differences, setting the stage for the reunion of all reunions. I remained guarded, though. Would this reunion last a week, a month, a year maybe? Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the creative rampage as the band have now released five, yes FIVE, albums in the last 8 years! This, of course, includes the reason we are here today, to taste Leopard Skin.
And Now For Something Completely Different…
If you are expecting another high-octane, kick-you-in-the-teeth, heavy metal L.A. Guns record, you are in for a surprise. This is not that! Leopard Skin is a different cat altogether. For those that dare to open their ears and enter her den, it’s a wild ride and quite possibly the most diverse album of their career. More rock, less metal with some serious surprises and above all, it’s fun. This record is fucking FUN!
The album kicks off with a solid one-two punch. Leopard Skin‘s first two singles, “Taste It” and “Lucky Motherfucker” sets the tone nicely with a pair of sleazy melodic rock songs. If you are so inclined, be sure to check out the videos shot for both of these songs. In a world of “lyric” videos, it was cool to see an actual concept and the band looks like they are having an absolute blast. It’s infectious and refreshing.
From there, the band weaves in and out of unchartered territory. I hear Sabbath and surf rock in “The Grinder“. There are three tracks that stay somewhat true to the classic L.A. Guns sound but with a more power pop feel, “Don’t Gimme Away“, “Follow the Money” and the album closer “If You Wanna“. The obligatory ballad, “The Masquerade“, is a beautiful track dripping with tasty guitar and Phil‘s haunting, heart-wrenching vocals. A fun, almost funky little number entitled “I’m Your Candy Man” comes out of left field that made me laugh out loud when Phil delivers the line “even if you got a little spice“. Did I mention this album is fucking FUN!
I purposely saved the two biggest surprises for last. “Hit and Run“, now, from what I understand, this is the third single just released. Whoever decided on that deserves a promotion. A psychedelic seventies-feeling melodic rocker that would fit perfectly on any Oasis album. Moody verses, a soaring chorus and in the end, an incredibly beautiful song. Glad it wasn’t wasted on the Gallagher Brothers and a song I hope to hear live someday.
Far and away, though, the biggest and most unexpected curveball was “Runaway Train“. L.A. Guns goes Country! Never in my dreams did I ever think I would be writing that sentence. What’s most surprising is that it’s one of my favourite songs on the record! Before you run screaming, give it a chance. This isn’t Beyoncé‘s pathetic pop-country attempt; it’s more like Tracii channeling a little Zeppelin “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” kind of feel. Ain’t no shame in stomping your feet to this little ditty.
To Tracii, Phil, Ace, Johnny, Adam and Shawn, I say thank you for an absolute roller coaster of an album. Did I mention that this Leopard Skin album is fucking FUN!
