So many long-overdue reunions have been happening this past year and many rock music enthusiasts, including myself have placed L.A. Guns’ comeback as one of the most anticipated ones in their fan books. It has been, after all, 5 years since their last album, “Hollywood Forever” and not to mention almost 30 years since the release of their famous self-titled debut album that sky-rocketed their name and career. No need to yet again talk about their past and remind everyone of how and why those guys are relevant and deserve recognition – their solid trace speaks for themselves. What is important to know is that L.A. Guns’ glorious reunion happened and is once again, after over a decade, in the capable hands of the winning songwriting team of guitarist Tracii Guns and vocalist Philip Lewis. I was so looking forward to their new collaboration and as obvious, they still have it, they still rock it, they still conquer it! One of the things that immediately strike you as you go on song after song on “The Missing Peace” is the aura of the album and the way it makes you feel – the guys have found a way to revive a classic sound, hit it as hard as ever and bring it to us with all their might, strengthened by modern-day technologies. The 12-song album was released on October 13, 2017, via Frontiers Music Srl and is yet another important piece of the puzzle I’ve been talking about for so long – there’s a hard rock renaissance and Frontiers, along with hard-working classic rock bands like L.A. Guns are the main players. What a time to be alive!
Let’s talk music – we are here because of it, after all. Each track on “The Missing Peace” has the potential of finding a place on your list of favorite songs because they all are doing justice to both the genre and the band. The album kicks things off with “It’s All the Same To Me” – a classic hard rock punch, taken right out the streets of Sunset Strip. Philip Lewis is showcasing perfect vocal progression and unbelievable match between vocals, melody, rhythm, guitars and every other little thing that makes this song so good. The follow-up track, “Speed” is …well the title says it all – the entire song is a bundle of energy and just what you needed in your life right now. “Baby Gotta Fever”, along with “The Devil Made Me Do It” are topping my list of favorite songs from this album. Both represent what I’m looking for in a rock&roll experience – catchy choruses, melody, rhythm and of course, brilliant vocal delivery. Not to mention that those two songs, especially “The Devil Made Me Do It”, are “so ‘80s” and that in my book is an absolute WIN! The enslaving “Christine” – a strategic mid-point, placed there to calm your spirits and demonstrate how well the band can craft not only crazy rockers but soothing softer pieces. The rough “Don’t Bring a Knife to a Gunfight” was another one of my “love-at-first-listen” tracks that won me with that dangerous L.A. Guns trademark sound it carries.
“The Missing Peace” is something that was truly missing in today’s rock&roll scene; I’ve been waiting for an album with that extra danger, extra roughness and that beloved ’80s attitude for so long and now when it’s finally here, I just can’t get enough of it. Production is top-notch and the reaction from the audience speaks louder than my words.
great review! I love this album so much! it really is amazing that this album could be right out of 1989. one of the best releases in recent years.