VAN HALEN – A Different Kind Of Truth

It’s hard to believe it’s been fourteen years since the release of the last Van Halen studio album. Although they have been busy creating controversy and playing lead singer roulette during their layoff, these guys have certainly earned themselves “legend” status due to their great Hard Rock songs from the late ’70s and early 80s. They even earned a coveted induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007, which spawned a reunion and tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth. Now the great Van Halen has finally blessed the world with some very welcomed new material, and arguably their best work in many years.

Materially, A Different Kind Of Truth is a trip back in time to the sound of their first two albums. There is a distinct incorporation of the classic, unbridled bluesy rock riffs that made Eddie Van Halen a household name. It has been reported that at least six of the tracks on this album were original compositions from the ’70s and only made it to “demo” status. One track in particular, “Blood And Fire”, dates back to 1984. It was originally an instrumental song featured in the 1984 movie The Wild Life. It is very evident Van Halen is reaching back to their roots to recreate some of the magic that made them a success. The songs come off as having a very classic feel, but there is still a distinctive modern day edge to them as well.

David Lee Roth’s vocals are absolutely superb on this album. He is still able to maintain his four octave vocal range, and pulls off some of his best vocal work compared to any other Van Halen album or solo project. Roth is somewhat of an underrated vocalist because of his infamous over-the-top on-stage and video antics, but it is clear Roth put an incredible amount of heart and soul into his performances on this album. Additionally, the guitar prowess of Eddie Van Halen is (in a word) amazing. His unique talents may have been overshadowed by personal health issues and tabloid controversy, but he will always remain one of the finest guitarists to ever make music. His performance on A Different Kind Of Truth is energetic, lively, and full of vigorous, bluesy riffs.

Van Halen put a lot of care into these compositions, and have produced a product worthy to be near the top of their already prestigious catalog. This is 100% pure and true Guitar Rock with no synthesized fluff or useless Pop songs. Fans old and new will be sure to enjoy this one.