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Phil Campbell: Old Lions Still Roar
Phil Campbell - Old Lions Still Roar Music Review

Phil Campbell: Old Lions Still Roar

Melodic Hard Rock
4.5/5.0

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Nuclear Blast Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.10.2019 | Released: 25.10.2019

Phil Campbell. You know him. Guitarist for Motorhead for 30 years, unto the very end. So what do you do when Motorhead is over? Sit on your ass and merely collect royalty checks? Nope. Not Phil Campbell. He's got his family band going, Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons, featuring his three sons. Their debut album The Age Of Absurdity is out now. Now the veteran guitarist returns with his very first solo album, Old Lions Still Roar, which, besides family, features a variety of guest musicians and vocalists. These include, to name a few, Rob Halford, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Mick Mars, Matt Sorum, and Joe Satriani.

Phil Campbell - Click For Larger Image

Phil Campbell

If you're thinking Mr Campbell might revisit the full-throttle metal of Motorhead, you'd be mistaken. Actually, Campbell throws you a curve ball right from the start with bluesy country guitar groove of Rocking Chair (featuring vocalist Leon Stanford). But the song does suggest theme, Campbell is not ready adopt a pose in a rocking chair. But rather rock out. What follows then is essentially guitar drive melodic hard rock with, perhaps, a bit of a metal edge. Most songs roar with Campbell's sharp riffs and ripping guitar solos while wrapped up in some tight hard rock rhythm and groove.

Featuring legend Rob Halford, Straight Up features crisp riffage over some enormous groove, both nearly overwhelming Halford's voice. Swing It, with Alice Cooper at the mic, can best be described as metal heavy with dense riffs and a tough rumbling rhythm section. For his part, Cooper almost growls like a death metal vocalist. Dee Snider gets his turn with These Old Boots, essentially a heavy metal rocker which thunders with foot stomping groove while Campbell's fingers bleed all over the guitar strings. Campbell returns to his blues motif with Left For Dead with Skin vocalist Neville MacDonald, adding his whiskey soaked soulful voice. With Dead Roses, Campbell offers the only ballad, a tune lead by a fine piano melody, then accented with Campbell's lighter guitar work. The album finishes with an acoustic instrumental where Joe Satriani thrills with his fret work.

All in all, with Old Lions Still Roar, guitarist Phil Campbell offers listeners an album of creative, energetic, and entertaining songs featuring imopressive vocalist and fine guitar work wrapped up in solid hard rock rhythm and groove. Easily recommended.


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The Bottom Line

With Old Lions Still Roar, guitarist Phil Campbell offers listeners an album of creative, energetic, and entertaining songs featuring impressive vocalists and fine guitar work wrapped up in solid hard rock rhythm and groove. Easily recommended.

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