Pain - Rose Tattoo

Ever wonder what Led Zeppelin might have sounded like had they added a couple members of AC/DC and a couple members of Lynyrd Skynyrd to their lineup? The answer might lie in this album. Indeed, Rose Tattoo's gritty, bluesy rock & roll certainly does feel a lot like a Southern rock take on Zep with some Australian influence thrown in. The Aussie elements should come naturally, as that is the place from which Tattoo hails, but where does that Southern element fit in? Two of the most blatant examples of the band's Zeppelin-esque tendencies are the disc-opening "Black Magic" and "No Mercy." Interestingly, the latter cut also feels quite a bit like '70s hard rock stalwarts Nazareth. That is a sound that also shows up throughout the disc. If you want to see the most solid showing of the "Aussie sound," just jump ahead to the title track. It is a bit strange, a bit awkward, a lot angry, and very Australian. All in all, these veterans have shown that they really do live up to the rock & roll legacy of the greats. This is 16 tracks of great rock adrenaline that should leave you shouting "Long live rock & roll," perhaps with the added and "Rose Tattoo." ~ Gary Hill, All Music Guide