Year: 2021
Total Time: 47:18
Label: BMG
When two well-known and acclaimed guitarists join forces in order to create an album, what can one expect as a result? This is the case of the collaboration between Adrian Smith (guitarist of IRON MAIDEN) and Richie Kotzen (guitarist of THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG and former guitarist of POISON). They collaborated and released a new album, which simply bears the title of their names, predisposing the listener to its content.
The content, however, is very far from the style of IRON MAIDEN, as well as that of POISON or THE WINERY DOGS. To be precise, it is not an album with a specific musical direction. In its nine songs, one can find from Blues elements to Hard Rock passages, but also some Jazz Fuzion elements that Kotzen added to the compositions.
The two artists share, in addition to the guitar parts, the vocals, but also the bass, which in some songs is undertaken by Smith while in others by Kotzen, who in five songs also plays the drums. Several guest musicians also appeared through the album, most notably Nicko McBrain playing the drums on “Solar Fire”. The album was produced by Smith and Kotzen while the mixing was addressed by Kevin Shirley.
The diversity between the compositions makes the album quite interesting, while the prevailing ’80s aesthetic certainly creates nostalgic feelings to the listener. But even though it has elements that would make it stand out and two huge musicians composing it, in fact it is rather an album in which the two guitarists just put some ideas, recorded them and without the result being unpleasant, it is not exactly what one would expect from artists of such range.
All in all, it is a work that will flow smoothly and will provide quality time to the listener, especially with songs like “Taking My Chances”, “Solar Fire” and “Scars”. One will find many different elements from different musical branches inside, but that’s all. A good creation, which could certainly be much better in the end…
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Fanouris Exintavelonis
Related Link: Smith/Kotzen – Official Page
