Genre: Hard Rock
Label: Frontiers Music Srl.
Release Date: October 13, 2017
Links: https://www.facebook.com/LAFknGuns/

Line Up:

Phillip Lewis: Vocals
Tracii Guns: Guitar
Michael Grant: Guitar
Johnny Martin: Bass
Shane Fitzgibbon: Drums

Tracklist:

01. It’s All the Same to Me
02. Speed
03. A Drop of Bleach
04. Sticky Fingers
05. Christine
06. Baby Gotta Fever
07. Kill It or Die
08. Don’t Bring a Knife to a Gunfight
09. The Flood’s the Fault of the Rain
10. The Devil Made Me Do It
11. The Missing Peace
12. Gave It All Away

For every L.A. Guns’ fan, myself included, “The Missing Peace” is the most awaited album, first of all, because L.A. Guns is such a good band and last but not least because we can finally see Tracii Guns and Phillip Lewis reunited in the band. There’s a change of lineup, with Shane Fitzgibbon instead of Steve Riley at drums. The lineup is rounded out by Johnny Martin on bass with Michael Grant on guitar as a touring member.

“The Missing Peace” show us a great band, as always. For some musician we can tell that there is no rest for the wicked, this is the case for L.A. Guns that formed in 1983, that continue to rock their style, pure sleaze for all their fans’ joy. With them, the sound of golden sleaze and street years, never end and we can feel this atmosphere on this album as well.

“The Missing Peace” contains twelve powerful tracks, songs that made this album a brilliant work.

“It’s All the Same to Me” it’s such a great opener track, this piece is the essence of the band, it contains all the elements we’ve grown accustomed to, pronounced guitars’ riffs, rapid pace and so eighties in somehow, considering how fresh and modern sound it is. “Speed”, one of the singles L.A. Guns released, is pure power and authentic sleaze Hard Rock, this track gives us the idea how alive L.A. Guns still are, rejuvenated if they ever had a lack of energy in their career. This song is the coolest by far, so catchy. The following “A Drop of Bleach”, has the same spirit, less easy than the previous track, heavy guitars, and tight rhythm, just another good piece of hard rock.

“Sticky Fingers” doesn’t skip a beat, in fact, this piece is quite heavy and melodic at the same time, respectable and massive music, where we can feel the band’ mood. “Christine”, the other single released, remind so much of a Guns ‘n’ Roses sound, but it turns to be a good song anyway, nothing new but another very positive proof for Phillip Lewis’s voice. A pretty good song is “Baby Gotta Fever”, the right piece to listen to a live show and scream the refrain altogether with the band, shaking and joying it. Absolutely a dazzling piece! “Kill It or Die” remind once again of a certain trademark LA Sleaze style, a good track with a taste of the Seventies.

A change of pace comes via “Don’t Bring a Knife to a Gunfight”, this is L.A. Guns stylishness with something new like a Reckless Love sound in comparison and somehow it’s like the band put their self out there. Sorry to hear that also “The Flood’s The Fault of The Rain” remind too much of G’N’R, in some way, it’s just like if L.A. Guns took ideas from someone’s else hat, maybe it’s just me and I hate comparing bands, but sometimes it’s evident upon listening.

Improvement comes at your hard with “The Devil Made Me Do It”, so speedy and fresh and definitely in the perfect L.A. Guns mood and bravura. This song is absolutely spewing from Phil Lewis and Tracii Gun’s soul. So fine is “The Missing Peace”, an emotion of that only LA Guns is known more, pure passionate rock. “Gave It All Away”, another great song, brilliant music that nearly reaches epic sounds, a really beautiful track, another emotive song, wonderfully done and with this Metal touch that reminds of Iron Maiden guitars style.

L.A. Guns are back in a sparkling shape, Tracii Guns’ work is pretty evident on this album and the band gives us an excellent piece of work.

Glad to see how some of past 80’s bands from our past are still around and kicking tail, L.A. Guns is one of them and they still keep rocking with the same enthusiasm as ever. Their spirit presents us a perfect rock album with an invigorating sound in 2017.

Written by: Valeria Campagnale