It feels so weird saying that Van Halen has a new CD out, but it’s true! Van Halen’s first CD in nearly 14 years also features David Lee Roth on vocals, making it his first album since 1984. Also featured here is Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass guitar. This highly anticipated album will aim to shock and thrill you.

The album’s artwork serves itself perfectly, as it does sound like the band stepped right out of the past, picking right up where they left off in 1984. Long time fans will recognize the distinct Van Halen sound, though it is slightly heavier.  Still intact, and maybe better than ever are Eddie Van Halen’s blistering guitar licks (see “As Is” and “China Town”); also, the very, very missed vocals from David Lee Roth are so comforting, and his voice hasn’t changed much.

The album’s first single, “Tatoo” may not have been the best choice, but it’s full of that Van Halen panache. The reason this album triumphs is that it’s all culled from material that Eddie has had shelved for many years, and in that some of his better stuff. The album really starts to come into it’s own around track 3: “You and Your Blues.” This song builds and builds with Roth swagger and Van Halen’s genius guitar. “China Town” starts off with an ode to classical music and then kicks that classical music in the ass! The album’s master piece, “As Is,” showcases Van Halen at his finest. It’s ingrained with that rich Van Halen sound, and then becomes something new, compared to what we’re used to. Roth’s vocals accompany that fine sound making this a new mash-up of that old Van Halen sound we love with a modern rock vibe to it.

This is the Van Halen we’ve come to love, with the same flare, same unabashed talent that fans have been used to for so long. This is the album Metalica wish they could have made, not in sound, but in integrity. With a nostalgic sense, Van Halen are true to themselves, not relying fully on the modern sound to sway them, and in short has lead to one of the best albums of their career.

Album Rating: Stream It or Digitally Download It (Legally of Course)

Listening Co-efficient: Active Listen 

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