So after a decade’s worth of conflicting reunion tours and a series of lineup switches that are enough to make the members of Anthrax scratch their heads, Van Halen has finally come out with their first full studio album in fourteen years as well as their first to feature beloved lead singer David Lee Roth in nearly twice as long.
It is also noteworthy for being the first to feature dear old Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang in place of longtime bassist/backing vocalist Michael Anthony. With this and several other factors to consider, A Different Kind Of Truth is as intriguing and head scratching as its title would suggest.
Ain’t Gonna Dust No Broom
When listening to this album, it’s pretty clear right off the bat that it is the safest thing they could’ve put out at this time. There’s not a single keyboard to be found and any traces of Sammy Hagar or Gary Cherone have been systematically erased from existence. Hell, it doesn’t even have any of the bits that made Fair Warning or 1984 so intriguing back in the day.
Instead, we have a release that’s almost entirely indebted to the sound that was first displayed on the band’s self-titled debut back in 1978. The production may have a modern fullness and the band members themselves have certainly grown older, but the songs on here are full of the rawness and swagger that made songs like “Atomic Punk” so enjoyable. The fact that half of this album was actually written at the same time as the debut certainly doesn't hurt either...
Speaking of band members, the performances on here are pretty good for the most part. As expected, the brothers Van Halen are as tight as ever and Wolfgang’s bass playing manages to be quite strong and satisfying. On the other hand, the backing vocals manage to be pretty decent though you can tell that they’re trying so hard to make you forget about Michael Anthony…
And seeing as how David Lee Roth has always been similar to Ozzy Osbourne in that he’s more of a showman than a singer, it isn’t too surprising to say that his performance on here is somewhat lacking. He can still carry a Paul Stanley-esque tune and his lyrics are weirder than ever, but his shrieks are sadly absent and his interjections are surprisingly subdued. All in all, he does a decent job but it sadly makes me wish that he acted more like his old douchebag self.
Do You Really Drive This Way Just to Piss Me Off?
But with the comments of safeness and aging being said, this album is made rather surprising by it being one of the fastest and heaviest in the entire Van Halen discography. The band has had plenty of more aggressive songs in the past but there certainly weren’t this many on a single album before.
This speed can be best seen on tracks like “China Town” and “Bullethead” where the drums are pounding, the guitars are vicious, the vocals are punctuated, and the hooks are much more direct. “As Is” is also worth noting for channeling “Hot For Teacher” with its extensive drum work.
Of course, the album still has a pronounced melodic side even if there isn’t a single ballad to be found. “You And Your Blues” and “Blood And Fire” plays out like more weathered versions of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” and “Tattoo” does warm up to you after a few listens. However, its huge emphasis on vocal harmonies does make it an awkward choice and makes one wonder why the driving “She’s The Woman” couldn’t have started things off instead.
Like the debut album before it, the biggest oddball on here is the half-acoustic-half-metal “Stay Frosty,” a track that is clearly meant to be the successor of the band’s classic cover of John Brim’s “Ice Cream Man.” The overall execution does make it seem a little forced right down the identical chord progression, but the energy does make it a pretty enjoyable track.
A Little More Volume In The Headphones, Please.
Yeah, that description seems to sum up this album up pretty well: things may feel a little forced and hollow at times with the band’s regression obsession but the energy involved does make this an enjoyable album worth looking into. If they had taken a few songs off and fleshed the remaining bits out a little more, we could’ve had a modern classic on our hands. But for what it’s worth, this does hint at the possibility of there being at least one last hurrah in the near future.
And to those who want Michael Anthony back but think they shouldn’t have used so many songs from the demo days on here, I can agree with you on the former but invite you to do some more research as the entirety of Van Halen’s career has been based on old demos from the 70s. Just wanted I’d throw that out there.
Current Highlights:
- “She’s The Woman”
- “China Town”
- “Bullethead”
- “As Is”
- “Outta Space”
Christopher Latta - I am the lead singer/bassist of Psychic Faith and the writer of many hard rock and heavy metal reviews
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