Inspiring generations of shredders for years to come…
Review by Debbie Gough
Release Date: 14 March 2015
Whether you’re keen on picking the axe up and shredding to the neighbours yourself or leave the work to your well-worn copy of Blizzard of Ozz to shake the walls, every metal head is pretty much obligated to appreciate the work of the great Randy Rhoads. After his tragic death while on tour during 1982, fans of both Ozzy Osborne and Quiet Riot have refused to allow the legendary guitarist’s memory to fade away. Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute captures Rhoads’ best riffs featuring current musicians, who have been influenced by the work of the God of six strings, so perfectly that even the man himself is sure to be nodding his head from the room upstairs.
Replacing Ozzy on vocals for the opening track, ‘Crazy Train’, is System of a Down’s very own Serj Tankian accompanied by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Rudy Sarzo and Vinny Appice. From the initial, ‘aye aye aye’s, it’s evident that this is very much 2015 and not 1980; with that being said, Tankian’s vocals definitely leave a lasting impression to those who may not be familiar with the likes of System of Down during today’s metal scene. Much like the original, the song is complemented with a solo sure to leave you with your mouth wide open (hopefully in the comfort of your own home and not with your iPod playing on the train during the rush hour with an office woman’s face centimetres from yours). Is Morello’s solo better than Rhoads’? I’ll leave that question to you to answer.
With combinations of both Quiet Riot and Ozzy tracks, the album offers a concoction of new solos catered to any fan of Rhoads. From thrashy double tapping to sweep picking and the occasional dive bomb plunging into the pits of hell, the guitarists attempting to fill the legend’s place do a bloody good job. A personal favourite solo from the album is Children of Bodom’s Alexi Laiho’s adaptation of ‘Mr Crowley’; Laiho’s guitar simply oozes the spirit of Rhoads while he proves himself as worthy of a place on an album with such a high expectancy.
Is this in fact the ultimate tribute to Randy Rhoads? Judging from the standard of musicians that Rhoad’s encouragement has produced, it would be sensible to assume that Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute may be capable of inspiring generations of shredders for years to come…
9 out of 10
Track Listing:
- Crazy Train (feat. Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, Rudy Sarzo, Vinny Appice)
- Over the Mountain (feat. Ripper Owens, Jon Donais, Rudy Sarzo, Frankie Banali)
- Mr Crowley (feat. Kelle Rhoads, Chuck Billy, Alexi Laiho, Rudy Sarzo, Vinny Appice)
- Suicide Solution (feat. Ripper Owens, Brad Gillis, Rudy Sarzo, Brett Chassen)
- I Don’t Know (feat. Ripper Owens, George Lynch, Rudy Sarzo, Brett Chassen)
- Flying High Again (feat. Ripper Owens, Bernie Torme, Rudy Sarzo, Brett Chassen)
- Goodbye to Romance (feat. Ripper Owens, Gus G, Rudy Sarzo, Brett Chassen)
- Back To The Coast (feat. Kelle Rhoads, Bruce Kulick, Rudy Sarzo, Frankie Banali)
- Killer Girls (feat. Ripper Owens, Joel Hoekstra, Rudy Sarzo, Brett Chassen)
- Believer (feat. Ripper Owens, Doug Aldrich, Rudy Sarzo, Vinny Appice)
- S A T 0 (feat. Ripper Owens, Bob Kulick, Dweezil Zappa, Rudy Sarzo, Vinny Appice)
