Slash - Made In Stoke

Mon 23rd Jan, 2012 in Music Reviews

Guns N’ Roses were known for a few things, namely heroin, alcoholism, excessive videos and bad bike shorts. They were also known for top hat wearing, electric guitar icon Slash. Since leaving GN’R Slash’s career has been patchy at best, heavily blues influenced Slash’s Snakepit albums and some uneven records with supergroup Velvet Revolver, but his recent self titled solo effort from 2010 seemed to be a return to form for the guitar hero. Now Slash releases Made In Stoke a live album recorded on the tour supporting the latter with Altar Bridge’s Myles Kennedy filling in on vocals.

The recording is crisp and clear and sounds great when being belted out of a stereo. The live audience is at a good level, not too overbearing like a bootleg, but loud enough to keep the live energy of the songs. Most importantly the guitars are beefy and Slash’s solos are boosted up to a hair-raising level.

The album’s set list has been cherry picked from throughout Slash’s career, the main draw for most listeners will be the Gunners songs, but Mean Bone and Beggars & Hangers On from Slash’s Snakepit are electrifying selections showing of fat riffs and skilled slide guitar work. The inclusion of his infamous Godfather Solo is a fun indulgence for guitar heads, but at over 10 minutes you will be skipping it after not too long.

Myles Kennedy has the unenviable job of covering the vocals of a cast of talented singers but he pulls it off well. While his voice may lack the character of your Axl’s and Cornell’s he certainly has the range and comes across as an engaging front man. While Slash is the star of the show there is no pandering and the performers attack each song, working together as a tight unit, helping the classic jams come alive.

There are some great moments on the record, Paradise City still packs the punch it had in its glory days and Civil War’s Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) outro is spine tingling, but this record truly works best as a solid collection of songs from Slash’s career. The live situation gives it a better feel than a slapped together compilation and proves that he still has the chops that make him famous. While Slash has left the sex and the drugs behind he certainly hasn’t forgotten the rock and roll.