L.A. GUNS – Checkered Past
- Posted on 02-12-2021
The raunchy rockers L.A. Guns are back and this latest output of theirs, "Checkered Past", contains some of their most inspired and musically rewarding tunes to date. There is something uncompromisingly raw and unfiltered about the whole affair that appeals to me greatly, and the vibe and feel of their classic material are very much present throughout these eleven crunchy compositions, which means that all you lovers of glam metal and hard rock ought to find this an exciting listen.
Having said all of that, the record does not merely look to the past nor does it function as a nostalgic and sentimental trip down memory lane; it simply sounds like a group of seasoned veterans doing what they do best and doing so in a confident manner without any regards for trends or musical fads. These guys mean business this time around and the disc is a great addition to their discography.
In short, "Checkered Past" is a muscular collection of sleaze metal tunes with heaps of grit slithering underneath it all, and even though it does contain a couple of forgettable tracks ("Bad Luck Charm" and "Physical Itch"), it also boasts some of their most captivating ones to date in the shape of "Better Than You", "Cannonball", "Living Right Now", "Knock Me Down", and the utterly brooding "If It’s Over Now". If you want swagger, attitude, and fierce rock ‘n’ roll, look no further than this one.