When most think of the essential Sunset Strip Rock bands from the ‘80s era, chances are Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and Dokken top that list. Clearly three of the most impactful in the grand scheme of popularity, there are a handful of other bands who are equally as good and as important to the decade. To head a short list, any real fan of this period of music would immediately turn to L.A. Guns. Together since 1983, the Los Angeles based band signify the truest form of the Sunset Strip Rock scene in the ‘80s. Not all too glamorous, they had flair, grit, and still encapsulated the raucousness of the time. From songs like ‘83’s “Sex Action” and “Electric Gypsy” into ‘84’s breakout of “Never Enough,” these dudes had it all.
Now, it would be easy to say the story of this band has been linear since the ‘80s, but it simply has not. In fact, there have been various formations of the band through the years. Without diving too deep into the sometimes-confusing nature of it all, in 2023 we have two forms of the band operating at the same time – Riley’s L.A. Guns (led by longtime L.A. Guns Drummer Steve Riley) and L.A. Guns (led by co-founding Guitarist Tracii Guns and longtime Vocalist Phil Lewis). Both having something to offer, to many, it is exciting to see Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns reunited again since the 2017 record The Missing Peace. A great time for fans, The Missing Peace was followed up by 2019’s The Devil You Know and 2021’s Checkered Past. All solid albums in their own right, in 2023 Lewis and Guns returned with L.A. Guns yet again, this time with the album Black Diamonds.
Released back on April 14th through Frontiers Music SRL, the new album features the lineup of Lewis, Guns, Ace Von Johnson (guitar), Johnny Martin (bass), plus session work from Adam Hamilton (drums). Together they unite to perform an album featuring eleven new songs. Sticking out among other Hard Rock records released in 2023, this album has a unique sound because it sounds real. Wait, what exactly do we mean by ‘real’? It is simple, it means it is not a product of overproduction or studio magic that makes a lot of modern records sound like anything but human beings are actually playing. More simply put, it sounds live, which lends itself to a more textured, atmospheric tone. This is felt right from the start with “You Betray” and carries through mostly each song that follows.
A compelling listen, it should also be noted that if you go into Black Diamonds looking for anthemic tunes like they have produced in the past, you probably will be disappointed. That is not to say this album does not have its share of catchy Rock, because you do have those like “Wrong About You” and the acoustic beauty “Diamonds.” However, what really holds this album together is its cohesive maturity. It does not try to pop you in the face with one or two songs, but tries to entice you to listen to the album entirely. Striking your interest, you want to listen to after tunes like “Shattered Glass” which settled into a nice groove with the retro sounding twists and turns of “Gonna Lose.”
In enough words, Black Diamonds is not necessarily an album that you immediately dig, but it really sinks its teeth into your flesh with each passing listen. Possessing depth, great tone, and sincerity, Cryptic Rock gives this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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