Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction

Vocals: W. Axl Rose
Lead Guitar: Slash
Rhythm Guitar: Izzy Stradlin'
Bass Guitar: Duff "Rose" McKagan
Drums: Steven Adler

1. Welcome To The Jungle
2. It's So Easy
3. Nightrain
4. Out Ta Get Me
5. Mr. Brownstone
6. Paradise City
7. My Michelle
8. Think About You
9. Sweet Child O'Mine
10. You're Crazy
11. Anything Goes
12. Rocket Queen

1987 saw a legend in the making, Guns N' Roses seemingly came out of nowehere with their debut album, knocking everyones socks off and the world of rock sidewars with an almighty scream!

The unknown band from LA brought a very blues influenced guitar style, full of heavy chords and Rolling Stones kick to the forefront of the music world. Axl Roses soaring vocals demonstrating a capability of both astonishingly high and deep tones all with a touch of a growl, this gives the band an instantly recognisable unique sound. All backed up with a heavy drum beat and bouncing base line.

Even if you didn't know it was Guns N' Roses you will most likley have heard several tracks from this album before. If the terms "Paradise city or" "Welcome to the Jungle" mean anything to you then this album is probably why. For the most part it is fast, powerful and packs a punch. However there are some wonderful melodies throughout, most notably "Sweet Child O'Mine" (a track that was originally going to be scraped from the album). If I had to pick one weak track on the album I would choose "Out Ta Get Me", but even this has grown on me over time, demonstrating yet more of Rose's snarling/growling vocal tone. Much of the bands backgrounds and influences show through on the album, the track Mr. Brownstone talking about heroin addictions for one, the album title displaying what its all about, self desruction by addictions and bad habits. There is an overall sleezy, gritty sound to the album which contributes to its awesome raw power.

This is one album every rock fan should own, being one of the heaviest influences to lots of modern bands aswell as having one of the largest impacts on the way the metal/rock genre has formed. Nothing has been the same since the appearance of the Guns, although at this time 20 years later there has been many lineup changes since the last album with the likes of Slash and Duff collaborating with Rose (1993). Whilst Guns N' Roses still continue to tour, they have not realased an album in many years and Axl Rose remains the only original member, the majority of the rest going on to form Velvet Revolver with ex-Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland.

Truly a must for any rock fan.

By J
27/01/07