Review SLASH “Orgy of the Damned”

In a way, Slash is following in the footsteps of Gary Moore, at least when it comes to unleashing his passion for the blues after decades of hard rock. The iconic guitarist’s new album is called “Orgy of the Damned” and features twelve blues classics reinterpreted by the Guns’N’Roses guitarist. For this homage to the blues, Slash invited several guests to join him in this endeavor.

This new longplayer still features a lot of Slash and his guitar playing. At the same time, the blues roots are dominant and give the album a new vibe. It’s less of the aggressiveness of hard rock that defines this release. Instead, it’s the intensity and emotion of the blues that gives the album a dynamic and warm thrill.

“Orgy of the Damned” isn’t Slash’s first time exploring blues rock. It was back in the ’90s when he formed Slash’s Blues Ball, a band that not many of you may have heard of. The band played several live shows and went on tour, but never released an album. However, the band members kept in touch and it was Slash who reunited with bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboarder Teddy Andreadis, who rehearsed with drummer Michael Jerome and vocalist Tash Neal.

Since the starting point was a spontaneous one, the entire work on this album was driven by a jamming approach and improvisation. “Orgy of the Damned” was recorded in a live setup with Mike Clink at the helm, and you can feel the energy and dynamics that come with each of these songs.

The extra spice is provided by the guests. With the network that a guy like Slash has, he was able to convince some of the greats of rock to join him for “Orgy of the Damned” and let’s start with “Awful Dream” by Lightin’ Hopkins. It is a slow, melancholic song built on acoustic guitar and Iggy Pop’s great vocal performance. The inner power of the blues is reflected in this song, and if you close your eyes, you can imagine the two guys sitting on barstools in a smoky bar, playing this tune. It is definitely a wow moment.

However, the starting point is a Steppenwolf song called “The Pusher” and it is Chris Robinson’s (The Black Crows) voice that gives the song this deep blues atmosphere. It is an intense opener followed by the upbeat “Crossroads”. Gary Clarke Jr. joins Slash for this lively interpretation of the Robert Johnson song, and we continue with a Willie Nelson song made popular by Muddy Waters. Enriched by a guest appearance by ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons, this vibrant song is a treat for the listener’s ears.

Each of these twelve songs is a little highlight in itself and shows a musical width that is also reflected in the stellar version of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” with Demi Lovato adding a lot of emotional intensity to this classic. This song brings a little more soul to the plate and adds to the versatility of this tracklist. A song released as the lead single is what follows. Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” was unveiled prior to the album’s release. The song features none other than AC/DC’s Brian Johnson on vocals, and it is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler who adds the harmonica parts to this energetic blues rocker.

Basically, you can drop the needle wherever you want. The reward is a great interpretation of blues, which also applies to “Stormy Monday. The Allman Brothers Band classic is performed to perfection by one of the greats of contemporary blues rock – Beth Hart. Especially when Hart puts all her emotions into the middle part of the song, it sounds just great, and it is Slash’s gently singing guitar that provides the foundation for this emotional highlight of the album.

A cover album isn’t necessarily exciting, but what Slash and company offer on “Orgy of the Damned” is an outstanding homage to blues and rock. The album brings a new part of Slash’s musical passion into the spotlight, resulting in a great longplayer that is as timeless as blues-rock itself.