Its fair to say that the LA Guns have struck a rich seam of form and are knocking out cock rock Diamonds left right and centre from ‘Checkered Past’ through ‘The Devil You Know’ and the last offering ‘The Missing Peace’. The main players of Guns and Lewis seemingly on the same page and the music is all the better for that. However having the likes of Johnny Martin in the engine room laying down the rhythm is a big part of this sound.

With Production handled by Tracii Guns, ‘Black Diamonds’ is indeed a tour-de-force of rock ‘n roll and right from the off the groove heavy ‘You Betray’ offers up a swagger and cool lick courtecy of Guns dirty guitar but its Lewis who steals the show with a huge display of vocal talent soaring over the last three albums with a spine tingling performance.

Written and recorded over the course of 2022, ‘Black Diamonds’ offers eleven songs of LA Guns gold. Sure there are loads of impressive licks that fall from Guns fretboard but he can’t carry a whole album with riffs he needs the engine room being stoked by a rhythm section of exceptional quality who have the groove none better displayed than on ‘Wrong About You’.

You also have a band that can slow it down and display a softer, gentler, and warmer like they do perfectly on ‘Diamonds’. A song that ebbs and flows like all good power balads should, the band have done throughout their career to be fair.

If you’re in the mood for some 70s-inspired Rock then look no further than ‘Babylon’ dipping its toe in the Bowie-inspired hard rock but its got that sleazy swagger that is pure LA Guns and the world is a better place for it. ‘Shame’ is a laid-back honkin’ song Aerosmith used to do so why wouldn’t the Guns fill that void? Some nice harmonica and again Lewis works those pipes out to great effect.

I remember when the band hit the ground running back in the late 80s offering something different and not afraid to mix their hard rock roots with their punk rock roots and the no-brainer of 70s Glam dropping their glittery bombs all over their catalogue. This record has elements of all of the above running throughout it, ‘Shattered Glass’ is a cool example of a very good song not relying on style over substance, the chorus has a good gang vocal punching in unison with Lewis’ lead vocal and then a dirty solo to tidy things up, on what is a great song that gets better the more you play it (the louder it gets also helps).

‘Gonna Lose’ heads back to the porch for some acoustic navel-gazing but the song doesn’t hang around wallowing because they turn it up a notch for a dirty verse before settling back down a really good song that showcases exactly what the band does best big dirty riffs and tender moments where the two main players showcase their unique talents that work so well together.

The album isn’t front-loaded with the best songs if anything the latter half is where the gold is or should that be the diamonds? ‘Got It Wrong’ is exceptional, a cool groove with a banging tempo and Lewis on top form drawing you in to hear exactly what he’s got to say. Punky, raw yet uptempo and absolutely rockin.

The band’s creative energy is on disp[lay for the world to see and the quality has been continuing unabated over the course of, now, four studio albums.

“Black Diamonds” shows no signs of L.A. Guns hanging up their guitars and on this form they should never contemplate it either. Still kickin’ it unlike so many of their peers this band is up for the fight and they’re coming out swinging. Songs like ‘Lowlife’ will testify that and if you’ve had enough throwing yourself around then sit back and pour yourself a large glass and get into the cool swaggering ‘Crying’ as the band gets its collective hips shaking on one that Bolan would have been proud to have penned.

It only leaves ‘Like A Drug’ to finish this album off in style L.A. Guns style. when you know what you do best and write songs to suite yourself in that style then you are on to a winner and this album might just top the last few over time. Join the gang and get involved. L.A Guns are in da house and they’re kickin ass big time. Buy It!

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