Album review: LA GUNS – The Missing Peace

Frontiers [Release date 06.10.17]

To be fair, I am a big fan of L.A Guns. Now before you assume that this review is going to be a one sided love fest, let me assure you that this is an upfront and fair opinion on the band’s new album “The Missing Peace”.

There is an undeniable musical chemistry between vocalist Philip Lewis and guitarist Tracii Guns, one that has been missing for the last twelve years. Whatever had once stopped the two working together has been put aside and the pair have reconvened their musical partnership to great effect. Now, although I was pleased to hear this album was on its way, I was also a little apprehensive – what if it was crap, or an effort at a last gasp money grab. I needn’t have worried.

The album has a similar feel to 1994’s “Vicious Circle” (incidentally, this was the last album of original material from the band’s classic line-up), not trying to recreate the sound of their first two albums yet still staying true to their past. With a new line up completed by guitarist Michael Grant, bassist Johnny Martin and drummer Shane Fitzgibbon, L.A Guns these days have the energy and drive of a band half their age.

A rather in-house affair, “The Missing Peace” was produced by Guns, engineered by him and Fitzgibbon, songs written by all band members and has cover art designed by Mrs Lewis, and it is that feeling of attention to detail that stamps LA Guns right through this whole album.

The album contains great guitar work and vocals throughout, as you would expect, and there is no filler here. From the first bars of opening track “It’s All The Same To Me” it is clear L.A Guns are back, first single “Speed” includes those little guitar runs that Guns does so well and “Don’t Bring A Knife To A Gun Fight” literally strips back the last few decades. There are also some more mature sounding moments in “The Flood’s The Fault of The Rain” , “Gave It All Away” and title track “The Missing Peace”.

On “Sticky Fingers” we see the return of the Theramin, “The Devil Made Me Do It” and “Baby Gotta Fever” have a classic feel and ballad “Christine” could easily hold its own against the band’s established favourite “The Ballad of Jayne”.

The band are touring at the moment and with LA Guns sounding this good, and – dare I say it - fresh, it would be good to think this new chapter in the band’s story will be an ongoing one. *****

Review by Nikk Gunns

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)