L.A. GUNS "Waking The Dead"
by Jani Bon Neil

Cover: 9 Jizzy Pearls out of 10.
The cover looks like something Iced Earth would come out with. Some chicks rolling around with skeletons, a red devil, horses, snakes, spiders, and shit like this. It's very metal and the L.A. Guns sheild logo is nowhere to be found, so that's a step in the right direction.

Booklet: 6 Ralph Saenz out of 10.
An 8 panel booklet with lyrics and a band photo. Everything is easy to read and good enough, though nothing inside relates to the cover artwork. There is no tied in theme. The cover is all evil and inside the panels are purple. They should have had the packaging all go together, but nobody ever asks me. Oh yea, Metal Sludge isn't thanked anywhere, so points are deducted.

Songs: 9 Chris Van Dahls out of 10.
This is a very solid CD without any real filler, and holds up to any album L.A. Guns has ever done. I actually like every song on this CD. It's good, aggressive hard rock without coming off cheesy or played out. "Don't Look At Me That Way" has a riff that reminds me of something Iron Maiden would do and is a great way to start off the CD. "Ok, Lets Roll" deals with 9/11, and "Waking The Dead" has Phil screaming out the chorus like he's in Slipknot. Ok, not really, but I couldn't think of anything clever to write. Hey, I'm not Paul Gargano. Tracii Guns has come up with a bunch good riffs on this CD and Phil Lewis sounds great for being 80 years old. The production is actually good for a change, which I would hope considering Andy Johns produced it. There is only one ballad, which is called "The Ballad" and it works. The songs flow nicely on the CD and I can't say anything bad about it.

Comment: Probably one of the best new CDs by an 80s band in 10 years. Proof that this type of music can still sound current but remain true to it's roots.