No its not GNR meets STP, and no its not that classic blues sound everyone is once again waiting to hear since the GNR 93 break up. But this is the esence of hard rock, strong rhythm guitars, a key lead guitarist (who beter than Slash), easy but heavy base and great sadistic vocals. Velvet Revolver has this and much more in their debut effort Contraband. It is understandable that loyal GNR and STP fans will despise this album at first, and maybe forever; but as a music fan, the fuse between rhythm guitar and solos is reluctantly appearing track after track. The vocals and lyrics are poetic and harmonic but also hard and dark perfectly coordinating with the tone of every song.