Gods & Guns * by Lynyrd Skynyrd (CD, Sep-2009, 2 Discs, Roadrunner Records USA)

This is the best effort that the band has put forth since the 1991 self titled release! The sound is very layered. A blend of hard rock, blues, and country styled in a modern yet old and familiar way. The only tracks that need to grow on me are #2 & #3, the rest of the disk (I bought the 2 cd special edition) are awesome! This is a mixture of great vocals, lyrics written for a purpose, patriotic, blue-collar, working man, salt-of-the-earth, good ole fashioned powerful music backed by outstanding percussion and guitar work. If your a Skynyrd from way back (like I am) then I guarantee if you buy this you won't be disappointed at all. The band has outdone itself and I'd rank the quality of the tunes right up there with the original line-up going back to the 1970's...its that good!

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an old band, but that doesn't sound old for these days. Modern rock music that sometimes flirts with country or blues is the most approximate description that can be given to this new release, called "God & Guns", the album. This definition, however, is not too different from what they have always been labled of.

Old time fans might find a first listening a little weird, even shocking, as the tendency is to associate this new work with anything they have done before and once listeners figure out what this album is almost completely not related to their previous acts, some might even get somehow disappointed. "God & Guns", the track, amongst others on the album, contains heavy guitar riffles and a rock punch unimaginable to many when the thought of Lynyrd Skynyrd comes to mind.

There is a passage that resembles the "typical" Skynyrd tune ("Southern Ways") though, but that's the only one.

All in all, despite unavoidable comparisons that anyone - including myself - tends to make with the classical band that lived its heyday in the 70s. "God & Guns" is a rock solid effort that is worth of any southern rock fans, regardless of age.

PS: Check also the Special Edition with plus six tracks, including a live version of the eternal "Sweet Home Alabama".

I grew up on Skynyrd and have to say that I honestly like this new cd the best of them all! No disrespect intended-the original Skynyrd band was awesome and will always be remembered and missed! But I really do like the new direction that the band goes with on this cd! I like the whole cd but 2 songs stand out-'Still Unbroken' and 'Storm'-def. my favorites! If your down on your luck listen to 'Still Unbroken'-just listening to that song got me through a recent very bad time in my life! I love the artwork and title of this cd also-pretty amazing (and no I'm not a Republican!) If your a Skynyrd fan whose open to change I think you'll really enjoy this cd! They still got that southern rock roots but headed a bit toward country with this cd-I think it's definitely worth getting! And if you were lucky enough to see them play with Kid Rock this past summer you saw a good show-they were awesome!!!

Great CD if you like Southern Rock. Good message. I will buy more and pass out to my friends. - MARINE DAD -