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L.A. Guns: The Devil You Know
L.A. Guns - The Devil You Know Music Review

L.A. Guns: The Devil You Know

Melodic Hard Rock
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Released: 22.03.2019
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 20.03.2019

So L.A. Guns is back. But, you might ask, which L.A. Guns would it be? Yes, once more there are now two bands. Drummer Steve Riley is out on his own with his version. (Geez, this Great White bullshit gets old.) Yet, the die hard fan probably knows that the Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis version is the real deal. The "true" L.A. Guns returns with their twelfth album, The Devil You Know, once again on the Frontiers Music label.

L.A. Guns Photo - Click For Larger Image

L.A. Guns

And once more, like the previous The Missing Peace, this album is a solid slab of genuine Eighties melodic hard rock in the Sunset Strip tradition. If you were disappointed with Motley Crue's "end" some years back, hang on, L.A. Guns has you covered. What sets L.A. Guns apart with this album is three-fold, Guns' terrific and versatile guitar work, Lewis' assertive, sneering, yet melodic voice, and simply strong songwriting. Perhaps, I should have led with that last characteristic. Every song here is both interesting and entertaining, defined by its melody, groove, and catchy refrains. Guns and Lewis are merely the salt and pepper that season the mix.

Solid and sometimes speedy riff rockers arrive with Rage, Needle To The Bone, and Don't Need To Win. Gone Honey gives you a sharp guitar start before jumping into a big beat rocker with a damn fine chorus. Guns delivers an early guitar solo within Another Season In Hell, a steady anthem that juxtaposes heavy riff parts with some lighter vocal parts. The title cut, The Devil You Know, has a hard and heavy texture with strong riffs and a tough bottom end for more heavy metal rock. Alternatively, for some simply fandamntastic melodic hard rock, check out the catchy Stay Away. (Listen below.) All in all, the Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis L.A. Guns delivers another exciting and entertaining album of classic Sunset Strip melodic hard rock. Don't miss it. Easily recommended.



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Heavy Metal Rock
3.0/5.0

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The Bottom Line

The Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis L.A. Guns delivers another exciting and entertaining album of classic Sunset Strip melodic hard rock. Don't miss it. Easily recommended.

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