L.A. GUNS – Black Diamonds

Renowned glam metal rockers L.A. Guns have enjoyed some rather productive years and a bit of a renaissance lately, and this gritty 2023 effort of theirs shows that there is still a lot of mileage left in the tank. Although not as hard-hitting and thrilling as its predecessor titled Checkered Past was, Black Diamonds still ticks all the boxes and sees them deliver a great collection of robust and well-written tunes that are as delightfully raw and concise as I had hoped they would be. In many ways, this new LP of theirs is as instantly memorable and charming as anything else by L.A. Guns, and there is something about the slightly darker vibe of the record that appeals to me greatly. Things still feel unpolished and unfiltered, and the group’s unique sound remains intact here with fabulous tracks such as ‘Diamonds’, ‘Shattered Glass’, ‘Shame’, ‘Like a Drug’, and ‘Got It Wrong’ containing plenty of interesting flavors as well as shades of light and dark. Perhaps this output actually has more longevity and depth to it than those that came before it? Regardless, the song material simply comes across as a little more reflective, varied, and unpredictable compared to earlier on, which makes it a noteworthy and particularly impressive entry in their catalog, and the red-raw appeal of Black Diamond is simply undeniable. The aforementioned ‘Got It Wrong’ is so frigging awesome that I lack words.