Orgy of the Damned - 2024 European Snakepit/Gibson label 12-track CD

 great cover takes something old and makes it new again. This is the philosophy behind this album, Orgy of the Damned, a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped down, instinctive approach.

Slash reunited with two of his former Blues Ball bandmates, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and enlisted drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation. That approach resulted in dynamic, energized songs that feel immediate, raw and distinctly familiar. In the months that followed, Slash enlisted and recorded the album’s diverse guest vocalists, who include Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart. Elsewhere on the album, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith has a harmonica cameo on the album’s first single, a raucous, gleefully unbridled take on Howlin' Wolf’s 1964 standard “Killing Floor,”.

Orgy of the Damned showcases a lesser-heard aspect of Slash’s musical prowess. While he has always embraced a broad range of styles and genres, the album offers a glimpse into his early inspirations and ongoing obsessions. Instead of recording with his signature stack of amps, he kept things basic with a small combo amp and a few old guitars, taking advantage of an opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing.

Tracklisting:

1.  Slash, Chris Robinson - The Pusher   7:08
2.  Slash, Gary Clark Jr. - Crossroads   5:34
3.  Slash, Billy Gibbons - Hoochie Coochie Man   6:42
4.  Slash, Chris Stapleton - Oh Well   4:33
5.  Slash, Dorothy Martin - Key To The Highway   5:09
6.  Slash, Iggy Pop - Awful Dream   5:31
7.  Slash, Paul Rodgers - Born Under A Bad Sign   5:00
8.  Slash, Demi Lovato - Papa Was A Rolling Stone   7:51
9.  Slash, Brian Johnson - Killing Floor   4:18
10. Slash, Tash Neal - Living For The City   6:51
11. Slash, Beth Hart - Stormy Monday   7:57
12. Slash - Metal Chestnut   3:03