Slash, ‘Apocalyptic Love’ – Album Review
by: Mary Ouellette
http://loudwire.com/slash-apocalyptic-l … um-review/

Fresh off his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his former band Guns N’ Roses, guitar great Slash returns with his second solo disc, ‘Apocalyptic Love.’
With his debut self-titled disc, Slash tested the waters, conducting a musical experiment boasting a wide array of guest vocalists from Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas to shock rocker Alice Cooper offering a slew sounds and styles.

On ‘Apocalyptic Love,’ Slash continues to experiment with different sounds but has clearly fallen into a more comfortable groove of relying solely on lead vocalist Myles Kennedy rather than a singer-by-committee approach, and with good reason.

While the album title ‘Apocalyptic Love’ may conjure up images of the amorous undead, this disc is chock full of life. The title track kicks off with a funkified guitar intro and proves to be a true love story as Kennedy’s vocals wail, “This is the last time Whoa-oh / Don’t care how we do it as long as we make love under the same sky / All we’ve got is tonight.” By the end of the song you realize what a perfect pairing Kennedy and Slash truly are. Kennedy has the chops to keep up with Slash note for note, regardless of where he takes the song – and let’s face it, with Slash that could be anywhere.

‘One Last Thrill’ and ‘Shots Fired’ are as close to vintage GN’R as it gets on this disc, and that’s more than enough to leave one satisfied. ‘One Last Thrill’ proves to be a gritty, up-tempo rocker that speeds through the chorus and leaves you feeling a little dirty just for being in the same soundscape. ‘Shots Fired’ is a bold-faced rocker driven by a speedy little drum beat and classic sing-a-long choruses before Slash unleashes an epic guitar solo. It’s hard not to picture him slouched back, top hat firmly in place, as he tears through the riff.

‘Anastasia’ starts off with classic elegance delivered courtesy of Slash and his six-string before the rock band behind him demands to be heard and takes the song to new heights. The beautiful ballad ‘Far and Away’ is where Slash and company prove their true diversity and tests Kennedy’s vocal abilities. We know he can sing rock anthems but he can also go the opposite direction exuding raw emotion through his voice for the softer songs.

What makes this disc so appealing is the sheer diversity of it. Proving his true jack-of-all-trades abilities, the songs range from straight-up rockers to bluesy infused tunes to even the softer side of Slash with classical and cinematic elements – all in all, a well-rounded offering proving that he’s no one-trick pony.

Billed as a solo effort relying on the star power of the Slash brand, ‘Apocalyptic Love’ is definitely no one man show. While Slash’s guitar gymnastics are certainly the star, the supporting cast of Kennedy on vocals, Brent Fitz on drums and Todd Kerns on bass help prove that when the right pieces fall into place, rock ‘n’ roll will always persevere.

Given the drama of the last few months over the Guns N’ Roses Rock Hall induction, it’s nice to see a return to rock at its purest form -  letting the music speak for itself. On ‘Apocalyptic Love,’ which has already yielded the hit single ‘You’re a Lie,’ it’s plain to hear that Slash is speaking louder than ever.

4/5

Plus Back from Cali, but that wasn't broadcasted.

If it's boring to read the 'bitching' about the same setlist (in like 5 seconds) then imagine how boring it is to play the same setlist in 2 and a half hours for 2 years.

On the other hand posting @ a message board isn't supposed to be art. A live show should be.

Slash: Apocalyptic Love
By Ludovic Hunter-Tilney
Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s new album opens with, ahem, a bang

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/25da7d10 … z1vIrPpm3L 

Fires rage, the sky burns: the world is ending. Beneath top hat and curls of hair Slash’s thoughts turn to … one last roll in the hay with a Sunset Strip hottie. Such is the doomsday scenario of Apocalyptic Love’s title track (“This is the last time/Oh, oh/Don’t care how we do it”), which ensures the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s new album opens with, ahem, a bang.

“One Last Thrill” is lithe Sex Pistols-style punk, “Standing in the Sun” revisits the fast boogying riffs of his old band’s “Paradise City”, while the pseudo-classical soloing in “Anastasia” is Beethoven ditching the yawnsome piano sonatas for guitar-shredding. It’s a vast improvement on the veteran LA reprobate’s dull solo debut, aided by the presence of Alter Bridge’s powerful frontman Myles Kennedy on vocals.

4/5