We promised you’d hear more about these guys and it’s time to deliver. Since we last checked in on them, Adler have gone and released this perfectly excellent debut album – how dare they?. For those of you who aren’t up to speed (like us insanely super sexy glam rock fanatics), Adler is made up of former Guns N’ Roses/Adler’s Appetite sticksman, Steven Adler, Jacob Bunton (x- Mars Electric – lead vocals), Lonny Paul (x- Lynam guitar/vocals) and Johnny Martin (Bass/vocals). Anyone with any pre-notions about this album should get ready to leave them at the door.
Back From The Dead is one of the best glam rock records we’ve heard in years. Steven hasn’t tried to steer the band towards Appetite for Destruction Island in search of some remaining buried treasure they can capitalize on. Instead, Jackob Bunton and Lonny Paul have written a very impressive collection of punchy hits that deliver the perfect mix of heaviness, attitude, punk rock and hair sprayed appeal. There’s scarcely a moment to breathe on Back from the Dead as you’re pounded with one guitar driven assault after another.
Opening with the title track, you’re immediately cast into seedy California as the song attempts to convey a message Steven wants to make very clear – he is back. ‘Own Worst Enemy’ and ‘Another Version of the Truth’ continue with the ass kicking style. The album’s first single, ‘The One That You Hated’ still sounds as fresh and exhilarating as it did last year and all fears are gone when it isn’t the only stand out moment on this release. Former Marilyn Manson / current Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 adds his unique touch on ‘Good to be Bad’ (and someone adds an excellent ‘should have been Axl’ backing to the chorus). While former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash lends a hand on ‘Just Don’t Ask’ (we’re assuming the wonderful Spanish guitar intro and of course his signature style solo).
‘Blown Away’ brings us well into the second half with another ballsy hard rock anthem before Adler attempt ballad territory with ‘Waterfall’. I’ll leave you to make your own minds up on that one, it will not be mentioned again here. ‘Habit’ sends us rocketing back on course followed swiftly by another ballad attempt, ‘Your Diamonds’ which is a drastic improvement on the previously mentioned effort. Finally we come to ‘Dead Wrong’, an all out warrior of wall shaking bass lines and ravenous guitar riffs and solos. An excellent closer for Back from the Dead, so good in fact you’ll just want to start all over again.
Whatever about the last twenty off years of Steven’s life, there’s no denying he has something real to hold onto here. Adler could probably have chosen another name if they wanted to be completely removed from their most famous member’s previous associations, but the name be damned. There are almost no traces of GN’R on this record. Instead you have a new band with experience behind them and an albums worth of absolute mind blowers for you. Go to Spotify, find it, listen and enjoy.
Adler, the group founded by former Guns N’ Roses drummer, Steven Adler, have announced the postponement of their planned summer/Autumn US and European tour dates. In a message posted on their blog, the band announced Steven’s return to rehab as the cause. The message can be read in full below,
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