CACTUS, CACTUS V CD REVIEW ON ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE

What a surprise this is! 34 years after their last album ''Ot N' Sweaty,' the legendary Cactus are back! Described back in the day as "The American Led Zeppelin," these brusing rockers are back to rock your socks off once again. Featuring 3/4 of their original lineup, drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Tim Bogert and guitarist Jim McCarty are joined by new vocalist Jimmy Kunes(ex Savoy Brown, Exciter) in coming up with one of the finest comeback albums I've had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time. It's rare when bands can get back together and create anything close to what they produced during their heyday, but this truly is an exception to the rule. Already having participated in the successful Vanilla Fudge reunion, Appice continues his winning streak on this stellar 14 track collection of crunchy, heavy blues rock that plays as if the last three decades have never occured. Bogert and McCarty also shine on this recording, the bassist laying down the same heavy, thick groove that's helped power such classic bands as the aforementioned Fudge and Beck, Bogert & Appice throughout the years, while the guitarist shows what's made him one of the most underrated players of the rock era.

Assisted by The Lizards' Randy Pratt, who contributes some incredibly tasty blues harp, the band plays as if they've never been away. Vocalist Kunes was an inspired choice to replace the late Rusty Day, his raspy vocals recalling variously at times Mountain's Leslie West crossed with Bad Company's Paul Rodgers. After being away for so long, the band really has no right, judging by similar efforts by veteran bands attempting to make a comeback, to sound this good, but damn, they do it up right, putting other such bands to shame.This is what Cream should've sounded like during their much ballyhooed reunion last year. What's even better, instead of just cobbling together re recorded versions of old staples in an attempt to make a quick buck, what's contained here are completely new, strong original compositions. Ones which serve to show that there's a lot of life left in this combination, if the evidence presented here is any indication. Whether it's the finely honed blues of the stomping opener "Doing Time," the heavy funk stylings of "Your Brother's Keeper," the short acoustic instrumental "Blues For Mr.Day"(ostensibly a tribute tip of the hat to the late front man), the amazing, Mountain- like "Part Of The Game" or the rock solid, blues jazz hybrid instrumental "Jazzed" that closes the album, they change gears effortlesly.The latter, featuring frenetic, intricate yet powerful drumming and blistering solo guitar work from Appice and McCarty respectively being another highlight of this first rate effort.

Produced by Appice and McCarty, assisted by super producer/mixer Pat Regan (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Travers & Appice), they've made no concessions to current trends, sounding pretty much as it would've in the early 70's, only with more punch. As such, I wouldn't expect this to get much play, if at all on mainstream radio, as it's completely at odds with what's currently popular on the charts these days.Meaning it's damn good. But radio's loss is our gain, as this is a glorious throwback to when it was music, not record company profits, that was the first priority. Great stuff here indeed. If you were a fan of their earlier albums, you're going to find this quite satisfying. A live DVD filmed at the band's triumphant return at this year's Sweden Rock Fest is reportedly forthcoming later on this year, and based on what's to be found here, that'll be a no brainer to get one's hands on as well. Do your ears a favor. Pick this one up and crank it up loud. An essential acquisition for any fan of heavy blues based rock in the quintessential 70's style. 8.5/10 http://www.cactusrocks.net/ http://www.escapimusic.com/