Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators/ 4

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators/ 4

Genre: Hard rock

Label: Snakepit Records/ Gibson

Rating: *** 1/2

A decade ago, super-guitarist Slash teamed up with Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy to release the album Apocalyptic Love. The project, called 'Slash ft Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators', has now released its fourth album, aptly titled 4.

Expectedly, one gets a good dose of controlled rock vocals, spitfire guitar riffs and a skin-tight rhythm section. Bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and rhythm guitarist Frank Sidoris are spot-on, complementing the genius of the two lead stars.

Yet, despite all the technical pizzazz, one finds a certain sameness on the first four tracks. They make for good driving music, complete with high-speed axemanship, but only two of them go that extra mile. Luckily, the album settles in after a point, and the latter half has its share of gems.

Of the 10 songs, 'The River Is Rising' is an appropriate album opener with the lines, "All in the name of nothing, have we been hypnotized? No doubt the end is coming, we're out of time". Myles displays effortlessness here.

'Ces't La Vie' brings out the Slash-Myles collaboration genius and 'Spirit Love' impresses with its electric sitar-like intro sound, 'Call Of The Dogs' is more in Guns N' Roses territory.

The mid-tempo, melodic 'Actions Speak Louder Than Words' is the proverbial pick of the lot with its clear, incisive guitar passages and the singalong lines, "They say that actions speak much louder than words, so if you please just show a sign, your true intentions well they better be pure, please don't waste my time".

Finally, there's that trademark Slash solo on 'Fill My World', which takes off on the style popularised by 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Myles is filled with emotion when he sings, "And when the silence comes, it breaks my heart, when I'm lonely, I always fall apart".

Mumbai's audiences had a taste of the Slash-Myles magic during their show in November 2015. The albums have their own charm and this one.is yet another example.