Velvet Revolver is on hiatus. Slash already released his solo album last year and after a short stint with Jane's Addiction Duff's regrouped his gang "Loaded" for a third release.
 
The latest Loaded album "Sick" was a perfect example of Loaded at their best. "Sick" was packed with fun rock songs with lots of attitude and melody. With that in mind "The Taking" is a minor disappointment since it's a tad weaker than "Sick". "The Taking" is a dark album much like the debut album "Dark Days".
 
Duff's vocals sound better when he is doing his Johnny Thunders impression on the fast rock songs. The album opens with two songs that seem to go nowhere. There are moments on opener Lords of Abaddon but the overall impression is Seattle grunge rock anno 1991.
 
The first single Dead Skin follows the style on "Sick" and it's an excellent tune. Duff McKagan never sells out and it is obvious that this is the album that he wanted to make. Duff has such a strong charisma that transfers into the songs. However the main reason why "The Taking" doesn't hit bulls-eye is that Duff is up-beat punk not a depressed grunge rocker.
 
Easier Lying is another great moment along with Cocaine, but overall "The Taking" is a moody album that lacks the New York Dolls edge that Duff is famous for.
 
Duff McKagan live is still a hot ticket and I will be up-front rocking out to Loaded at this year's Sweden Rock festival.
 
CD Track List:
 01. Lords Of Abaddon
 02. Executioner's Song
 03. Dead Skin
 04. We Win
 05. Easier Lying
 06. She's An Anchor
 07. Wrecking Ball
 08. King Of The World
 09. Cocaine
 10. Your Name
 11. Follow Me To Hell

Style: Rock

Rating: 5.5/10

Posted by Michael - Wednesday, May 4, 2011



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