Richie Kotzen has been very productive with roughly one album release a year. His last solo album released 2 years ago "Get Up" was a consistent and long lasting album that I still play often. Last year Kotzen formed the band Forty Deuce and made a very electric record, which I named second best record of the year.

As the title indicates, Richie Kotzen finds himself in a dark mode. All of "Into the Black"s ten songs are mid tempo songs with a moody feel. The lyrics are harsh and deals with breaking up. I do believe Richie writes from a personal view and "Into the Black" is probably his shape of therapy in dealing with his personal stuff.

Somehow I expected a full blown Hard Rock album ala "Get Up", so it took me a few spins to adjust to Kotzen actually treats his amp gently this time. The record is very consistent though and Richie has managed to keep the mood on all songs. Your Lies is the only song that could have been on "Get Up"

The opener You Can´t Save me is the perfect mood setter for the record. Misunderstood builds up for the melodic chorus, which makes it among album highlights.

Richie is a diverse player and throughout the record he never gets stuck in the same old. His guitar sound and solo on The Shadow is stunning. Richie's playing is enjoyable and the listener is entertained - a fine example of Kotzen's inventive playing is found on Sacred Ground.

Richie plays the blues on Doin' What the Devil Says to Do and keeps the bluesy sound on another highlight Till You Put me Down. The song encompasses so much emotion and splendid musicianship. Try and check out the bass line for the song. Kotzen is a talented man and he plays all instruments on this record. Till You Put me Down ends with a superb 1 minute guitar solo, where Richie makes a fuzzy feedback effect that blends in perfect with the emotion of the song.

If anyone still has doubts about Richie as a solo artist "Into the Black" is a test piece of work for Richie finishing his vocal apprenticeship - try and listen to the track The Shadow.

I now officially declare myself a Richie Kotzen fan!

Highlights: You Can't Save Me, Misunderstood and Till You Put Me Down.

Written by Michael
Friday, August 18, 2006
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Michael: 7.5/10

Members: 8.5/10 - Average of 1 ratings.



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Sandra Rating: 8.5/10 "I sold my soul, just so I could feel paid. I broke my heart, so I couldn't feel pain..... · Read more ·

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Review by Sandra (Member) - Saturday, October 17, 2009

View Profile Comments: 36 Ratings: 25 "I sold my soul, just so I could feel paid. I broke my heart, so I couldn't feel pain..." Fantastic album. This is my first encounter with Richie Kotzen, and certainly not the last. I'm impressed, very impressed. When I come home after a busy day, I throw all the books away and everything else that's in my hands, put this on and enjoy it. It's so weird, because it's actually a quite dark album. But I really enjoy this album and it's something that I can hear over and over ... usually, I get tired of "breaking-up-theme-albums" cause there's often written "Feel pity for me" all over them and it's just too much. HOWEVER, this one is nothing like that. This man is strong and honest. You can feel it right away, in his voice, the lyrics, and in the music. It's defiantly among my top discoveries this year. "Fuck your money Fuck your fame Fuck my life" Hell yeah :-) , What an attitude... I love it. Rating: 8.5/10 Posted by Sandra Saturday, October 17, 2009