I gotta say, the new Van Halen-

[mentoneman]

I got the CD...like it a lot. The songs are cool and the playing is great. I agree, the mix is not the greatest. I really don't like the kick and snare...but I never did like Alex's tones anyway. The guitar tone is..ok...it's been better.

Still, I'll be listening to this CD a lot over the next few weeks. Yeah, it is better than most of the crap I hear on the radio...for sure!

i find myself listening through each song happily, something i can't say i've done since 5150 was released. the songs rock.


and although roth has a bit of ethel mermon in his upper range now, there are moments where you'd swear it was an 80s vocal scratch track saved in a vault somewhere.

eddie has a bit too much gain and presence in his tone to make it as sweet as his browner days, probably his idea of moving on and being more modern coupled with high end hearing loss, and the wah is a crutch, but overall not dreadful like many of the chugga chugga margarita blenders of today. and his playing is revitalized. sounds like he can't stretch the left hand like the early days. most of the 3 note per string licks are in the minor 3rd/4 fret realm, but still cool.

now the hope is eddie keeps clean, and keeps woodshedding so on tour the youtube clips will be van halen erasing the nightmares of the past.

 

[RG955TT]

Long time VH fan here, good (not great) record that seems to grow on me, 1st listen I was a little disapointed, nothing really grabbed me. Production sucks in my opinion, way too compressed, bass at times overwhelms the guitar and the guitar tone lacks body and girth, too little bottom and low mids to my ears and doesnt sound very rich, whole disc has a plasticky sound to it (is this the new state of the art today?). Vocals range from too loud to too low in the mix. Overall decent effort, but I cant see much of it getting any airplay, other than Tatoo which is the most radio friendly track in my opinion. My band does a number of VH songs, I guess we'll be adding that one but the others seem a bit out there for general public digestion. I had VH2 in my disc playing when I put this in, wow what a difference in production values. Ted Templeton had a lot to do with how those early VH albums sounded. Would have loved to see him in the producer's chair again for this one. This producer and mixer shouldn't be too proud of their work on this. Playing wise its pretty darn good though in my opinion, but no stand out tracks either. Good effort, maybe if they can keep from wanting to kill one another we'll get another disc from them in the near future which may be more cohesive. Still all in all, happy to have some new VH in the disc player so I give it a thumbs up!

 

[bsp01]

Nothing will ever compare to the first 6 records so I don't really see the point of comparing them. There are definitely a couple of gems on the new disc. I like the new tone, but not on mp3's/youtube... good speakers, loud and it sounds great.

 

[Rogue]

Nothing will ever compare to the first 6 records so I don't really see the point of comparing them. There are definitely a couple of gems on the new disc. I like the new tone, but not on mp3's/youtube... good speakers, loud and it sounds great.

I've found some tones are better than others, and oddly enough, it sounds great through my crappy little portable CD player.

 

[marvcus]

Nothing will ever compare to the first 6 records so I don't really see the point of comparing them. There are definitely a couple of gems on the new disc. I like the new tone, but not on mp3's/youtube... good speakers, loud and it sounds great.

I've found some tones are better than others, and oddly enough, it sounds great through my crappy little portable CD player.

Yeah, I like the tone on Blood and Fire. It sounds like the Ripley telecaster through the magic Marshall on the rhythm tracks of that one.

 

[Rogue]

Yeah, I like the tone on Blood and Fire. It sounds like the Ripley telecaster through the magic Marshall on the rhythm tracks of that one.

I've just about convinced myself I hear that amp on a couple songs.

 

[mysticaxe]

I thought the magic Marshall was dead and gone (had been destroyed)...

 

[Rogue]

I thought the magic Marshall was dead and gone (had been destroyed)...

As I understand it, he has used it at least once on every album they did. I haven't heard that of ADKOT though.

 

[mysticaxe]

I thought the magic Super Lead was acting up during the recording of FUCK (or was it Balance), and Eddie took it to a tech who took the liberty of replacing several components without telling Eddie what he was doing. Eddie got the amp back, and it's mojo had been castrated.

I think the album rocks. I'll have to listen a few more times on better speakers, but there isn't a song on the album that I dislike. Some I don't like as much as others. For the most part, there are at least pieces in almost every song that I really like!

 

[Rogue]

I thought the magic Super Lead was acting up during the recording of FUCK (or was it Balance), and Eddie took it to a tech who took the liberty of replacing several components without telling Eddie what he was doing. Eddie got the amp back, and it's mojo had been castrated.

I don't know about that. It's possible. I remember him saying the reason he went to another amp was because his Marshall was starting to "fade". I don't know if they were talking about it not sounding the same or if it was falling behind the times. But I know he's used it on albums since then for a few songs.

 

[Rdodson]

The magic Marshall was overhauled at John Suhr's shop. Here is a pic of Zakk Wylde holding it: http://www.vhnd.com/2010/08/18/zakk-wyl ... -marshall/

Hence the SL68 that Pete Thorn has, which sounds EXACTLY like Ed's 12000 series '68 Superlead.

It is featured on Blood and Fire, and at least two other tracks on the record.

 

[jabps]

Wow! Listening to it now, was really digging the album, and then As Is and now honeybabysweetiedoll came on. Awesome music! Sounds like something I'd expect from Steve Vai not Van halen!

A minority of people will get into honeybabysweetiedoll. I am firmly in the minority. Eddie's dark side is sinisterly dark. I love it.

Maybe my favorite song on the album. Reminds me of those great album tracks off Fair Warning in a way. FW was always my fav VH album.

 

[Rogue]

Maybe my favorite song on the album. Reminds me of those great album tracks off Fair Warning in a way. FW was always my fav VH album.

I'm not sure I could say it sounds like something from any VH album. It's just different. Dark and heavy. My personal thoughts are it was something Eddie was messing around with, possibly as some instrumental. They decided to make it a song. If I said it reminds me of anything, I'd say Pleasure Dome, just because it's doesn't quite belong with the other stuff. I love Pleasure Dome too.

 

[jabps]

Maybe my favorite song on the album. Reminds me of those great album tracks off Fair Warning in a way. FW was always my fav VH album.

I'm not sure I could say it sounds like something from any VH album. It's just different. Dark and heavy. My personal thoughts are it was something Eddie was messing around with, possibly as some instrumental. They decided to make it a song. If I said it reminds me of anything, I'd say Pleasure Dome, just because it's doesn't quite belong with the other stuff. I love Pleasure Dome too.

I should have clarified...I meant the vibe, the dark feel of it. FW always came across to me as kind of a dark album. Anyway that's how it hit me the first time I heard it.

 

[Rogue]

I should have clarified...I meant the vibe, the dark feel of it. FW always came across to me as kind of a dark album. Anyway that's how it hit me the first time I heard it.

Yeah, I assumed that was what you were referring to. While FW was darker than other VH, it's like 5:00 compared to noon. This is midnight.

 

[Onzabar]

It is good to hear the VH boys jump back in the saddle and pump out some music once again. The new CD is better than expected and I had some high expectations.

 

[TrueTone500]

The magic Marshall was overhauled at John Suhr's shop. Here is a pic of Zakk Wylde holding it: http://www.vhnd.com/2010/08/18/zakk-wyl ... -marshall/

Hence the SL68 that Pete Thorn has, which sounds EXACTLY like Ed's 12000 series '68 Superlead.

It is featured on Blood and Fire, and at least two other tracks on the record.

Guy Hedrick was the first to do a ground-up rebuild on Ed's Marshall back when he was working at Guitar Oasis. Apparently Ed liked what Guy did... Guy now designs and builds amps for John Suhr.

 

[Pippers]

Anyone who doesn't think this album rocks and is better than nearly any music out right now is fuckin nuts. Fun grooves, killer writing and who the fuck cares vibe! I love it start to finish. I love As is, and honeybabysweetiedoll cause they both are heavy as shit and not like songs we have heard from VH. I am glad I spent the money! I am listening to music again!

Yeah, not sure what is up. This album is one of their best. Easy. Dave and Eddie are still on the top of their game. Dave doesn't have his super high squeels, but he now has this awesome low end that gives his singing way more character I think.

And Eddie.. Holy Ffff. This guy is nuts. So many mini-eruptions all over the album. This is some of his best work he's ever done.

The mixing? Top notch! Yeah, it's clean, but no one is doing analogue anymore. The levels are great, the guitar and Dave go back and forth perfectly. Good god the tone is amazing, sustain to the MOON on some of these licks.

I've listened to the album about a dozen times now and I can't get enough.

Favorite part? Beginning guitar hook to You and Your Blues. OMFG.

Tattoo? Wasn't sure if I would like it, the youtube stuff was like OK... Now? I'm bouncing around listening to this when I pop it in. The song grows on you because it is mixed so effing well. Eddie does some good guitar work here.

Heard She's the Women at a bar last night on the muzak.

 

[mentoneman]

The magic Marshall was overhauled at John Suhr's shop. Here is a pic of Zakk Wylde holding it: http://www.vhnd.com/2010/08/18/zakk-wyl ... -marshall/

Hence the SL68 that Pete Thorn has, which sounds EXACTLY like Ed's 12000 series '68 Superlead.

It is featured on Blood and Fire, and at least two other tracks on the record.

Guy Hedrick was the first to do a ground-up rebuild on Ed's Marshall back when he was working at Guitar Oasis. Apparently Ed liked what Guy did... Guy now designs and builds amps for John Suhr.

i thought that pic of zakk was taken at dave friedman's shop?