Album Review: Slash - World On Fire

Having established a fully–fledged band sensibility via 2012’s Apocalyptic Love after an uneven, star–studded debut, veteran axeman Slash’s cohorts – including Alter Bridge’s powerhouse vocalist Myles Kennedy – are now evidently more comfortable in their own collective skin.

World On Fire’s crunchy hard rock (recorded to tape, but marginally more produced) seems a logical successor. Excessive length is an obvious criticism, but featuring 17 tracks clocking in at 77 minutes, it does overplay its hand. When World On Fire gels though, it’s memorable. Hedonistic title track’s up-tempo aggression and fast-paced riffage drip with attitude; a potential live opener. Classic rock–infused Dirty Girl packs considerable sleazy swagger. Mobile phone-waving Battleground boasts a stellar lead – just ignore the hokey “la la la”s. Stomping 30 Years To Life’s slide work helps build to an arena-reaching chorus, and Slash saves some of his more thoughtful, measured playing for last on cinematic The Unholy.

Todd Kerns’ muscular bass lines are afforded greater space to breathe while the singer’s tangible chemistry with his top hat-sporting leader flourishes further. The golden-voiced one not contributing guitar this time around has a dual effect: Kennedy remarked it enabled additional time to tweak melodies and lyrics, but his bluesy licks could have presented an appropriate foil for Slash. Nonetheless, he soars with conviction, injecting copious energy throughout groovy Shadow Life, Automatic Overdrive and Bent To Fly.

Filler aside, there are decidedly worse prospects than giving salivating fans precisely what they want, a sentiment readily applied here.