L.A. Guns - Made In Milan - Dawn's Album Review

LA Guns, Made in Milan, Frontiers 

Recorded at the 2017 Frontiers Music Festival in Italy this live album/DVD comes at an important point in the history of LA Guns when Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns are reunited in a powerful duo that reaches its apotheosis in a live setting. Because of that it is a fantastic time to release this recording just after the triumphant latest studio album ‘ The Missing Peace’.

And the tracks on the album include ‘Speed’ a cracking new track from the new album which on its own proves that the band is back to its original and powerful intensity. Whilst the running order is mostly made up of classic tracks and old favorites the reinvigoration the band feels on being reunited and producing a stormin new album communicates itself right through the older material and from the start of ‘No Mercy’ this is a band on attack.  There’s nothing old and tired about this band or its delivery and they are deadly serious and playing no quarter. Don’t bother putting seats in any venue for this one! 

And it’s an honest recording too. It’s obvious the vocals are not overdubbed and we are getting the raw band and that is why it’s a great live album. It’s not the studio recording and it’s not meant to be. If you have seen the band especially lately you will understand. This is LA Guns not the Royal Philharmonic and without the rock n roll delivery which demands spontaneous style half the magic of LA Guns would be gone. The recording captures the natural energy and charisma of the band and does not make the mistake of trying to tame the untameable. It also contains features such as Tracii Guns solo spot with a bow which you would never get on a studio recording. 


The DVD contains the extra track ‘Bitch is Back’. Otherwise the running order is the same. 


LA Guns are a band who have retained their cool as fuck image through a hell of a lot of shit. That’s because they have real passion for what they do. And as that’s most obvious in a live setting, look no further than ‘Made in Milan’.


Dawn Osborne

9/10

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