Review: The Dead Daisies, "Burn It Down"

Editor’s note: I’m introducing a slightly new format to try to breathe a little life back into this site. I miss sharing my thoughts on music, but I find myself without as much time to do it these days. In addition, some folks are starting to go to a stream-only mode for promos, which gives me less listening time and opportunity to write the longer pieces. I may still occasionally dig into an album here or there and write something longer, but hopefully these shorter reviews will help me do one or two a week.

Overview

After the outstanding Make Some Noise album in 2016, all-star group The Dead Daisies returns with new drummer Deen Castronovo (Journey, Bad English) taking over the sticks from Brian Tichy and a small tweak in their sound. 

What’s hot?

A lot of blues rock influence shows up on this album, starting with a slinky, tasty guitar riff that opens the title track and really showing up on the ballad "Set Me Free." It gives things a very slightly different feel from the straight-up, old-fashioned hard rock on Make Some Noise. That said, there’s still plenty of that sound to go around. Opener “Resurrected” reminds me of something from singer John Corabi’s underrated 1994 record with Motley Crue and songs like "What Goes Around" rock with a vengeance. The band also wears its classic rock influences on its sleeves with a cover of the Stones’ “Bitch,” and a hat tip on the opening of “Judgement Day,” which will definitely remind listeners of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” before it kicks in the high octane rock on the chorus.

What’s not?

A lot of the songs here, while grooving and powerful, lack those sticking choruses of the last record. There are some instant earworms like “What Goes Around” and “Dead and Gone,” but more growers. Nothing is really bad, though.

The Verdict

On Burn It Down, The Dead Daisies continue to pump out some of the best old-fashioned hard rock that you can find these days.

Check out: Resurrected, Burn It Down, Judgement Day, What Goes Around, Dead and Gone, Can’t Take It with You
Consider: Rise Up, Bitch, Set Me Free, Leave Me Alone
Skip: No skippers here