Slash stays relevant with Apocalyptic Love

Slash? What ever happened to the curly haired guitar player that ruled the 80’s? Many people have only remembered the guitarist from his days in Guns N’ Roses, but just four years ago Slash teamed up with singer Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and released an album that could easily go up against any other GNR album.

From the hard hitting opening track Apocalyptic Love to the mellow ballad Far and Away, Slash’s 2012 album Apocalyptic Love surely has been a gem thrown under the radar. Each track features the signature wailing guitar of Slash, now paired with the powerful voice of Kennedy. Each song carries a powerful message, the most compelling being “You’re a Lie” that has an even more powerful music video to compliment it. From the first track to the very last, Apocalyptic Love is definitely an album worth listening to.

Slash has had many projects after his heyday in GNR through the late 80’s and 90’s. From going solo to appearing on other musician’s albums, he has finally made the choice to team up with Kennedy. It was the first time Slash had decided to pick one singer for the entire album, versus having multiple singers on the album as he did in the past. The solid lineup that makes up the Conspirators consists of bassist Todd Kerns, rhythm guitarist Ashaan Baig and drummer Brent Fritz build up the structure to support Slash and Kennedy. The pounding drums, thumping bass lines and complimentary guitar help the entire album flow together making Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators seem as though they had been playing together for years.

The raw power of Kennedy’s voice compliments the pure musicianship that resonates throughout the entire album. Kennedy’s voice is one of the best aspects of the album tying together the roaring guitar playing of Slash. Not to mention the well written lyrics that are the basis of each song. The only thing that may lead to disappointment among fans would be that this is not another GNR copy, but simply something much different. While some can appreciate Slash’s new direction, others may still be hoping for the day that the original GNR will make another smash hit record.

Although it’s been four years since the album came out, it is definitely a staple album in any music lover's collection. From beginning to end, Apocalyptic Love is undoubtedly a diamond in the rough that many overlooked in the past four years.