BUCKCHERRY : Black Butterfly (Eleven Seven)

Oct 11 2009 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

BUCKCHERRY

Black Butterfly

(Eleven Seven)

wHOTLY tipped as the new Velvet Revolver frontman, Josh Todd instead returns with his own hard rock band’s long-awaited fourth foray.

What’s more, in a bid to break Buckcherry here in the UK, the album’s packaged with the band’s last album 15, plus a bonus CD of live takes and lost demos.

And if you thought Axl’s Chinese Democracy wasn’t firing on all guns, then blistering Buckcherry more than fill the gap with a barnstorming set.

Songs such as Talk To Me and Imminent Bail Out strip the paint from the walls; Rescue Me manages to blend LA glitz and Pearl Jam grunge; both Rose and Cream could be classic Guns N’Roses ballads.

A Child Called It is inspired by the best-selling child abuse book by Dave Pelzer; rattling rocker Fallout recounts the turmoil and troubles in Todd’s life; Dreams and Don’t Go Away are rousing radio-friendly anthems.

There’s a surprise when you cue a song called Too Drunk – it turns out to be a gravelly cover of Deep Purple’s Highway Star. Perhaps label bosses wanted to give the UK release a helping hand.

That’s unnecessary. In a strong field, this is easily the year’s hard rock winner. PC