Album review: Slash – Orgy of the Damned

By BRIAN GIFFIN

AN album of classic rock covers and blues standards was probably not on many people’s radar when it came to predicting what Slash was likely to do for his latest album. After more than a decade of solid but solidly safe albums with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, one could be forgiven for thinking that much of thrill had gone from one of modern rock world’s most influential players.

For a guitarist who has always been more about the feel than precision, however, Orgy of the Damned makes complete sense. And if there’s ever been any doubt about the amount of blues in Slash’s oeuvre, prepare to have that swept away.

Opening with “The Pusher” probably doesn’t get to the heart of the blues right away but it’s never too off with Chris Robinson vocalising and seven smouldering minutes sets expectations high for what’s to follow. A wild and hearty version of “Crossroads” comes next with Slash and modern blues master Gary Clark Jr trading off solos ahead of Billy F Gibbons adding his own touch of so-laidback-he’s-almost-prone cool to Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man”. So far it’s three for three, and there’s more to come: anything Chris Stapleton touches turns to pure gold and Peter Green’s “Oh Well” is rollicking glory.

The more left-field moments are where the Orgy of the Damned steps up even more: the fully-acoustic, sparse version of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ “Awful Dream” with Iggy Pop is a touch of ragged beauty, and bringing Brian Johnson in to belt out “Killing Floor” in his natural register with Steve Tyler honking away on harmonica is a piece of magic that comes along only once in a long time. Still, the album highlight is the sumptuous take on “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”, resplendent in vocoder and wah, building to a full band jam while Deni Lovato puts in a stunning performance – when the voice and guitar merge late in the piece the effect is spine-tingling.

With little at stake and no huge rock star expectations here, Slash is the most comfortable and vital he’s sounded as a musician in a very long time and from the band – Tash Neal, Johnny Griparic, Terry Andreadis and Michael Jerome – to the guest list, the cast he’s assembled around him here have made one of the year’s best records.