Photo: HaywardPhoto
As SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS are in the midst of their 28 city nationwide “The River Is Rising” U.S. tour. The acclaimed new studio album 4 from SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS marks SLASH’s fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring MYLES KENNEDY (Vocals), BRENT FITZ (Drums), TODD KERNS (Bass & Vocals) and FRANK SIDORIS (Guitar & Vocals); 4 is available everywhere now via Gibson Records (in partnership with BMG), HERE, and in limited-edition bundles HERE.
SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS aka SMKC just launched their U.S. headlining tour and will visit 28 cities nationwide including New York (Beacon Theatre), Boston (House of Blues), Chicago (Riviera Theatre), Denver (Paramount Theater), Kansas City (Arvest Bank Theater-Midland), Atlanta (Coca Cola Roxy), Nashville (Grand Ole Opry House), Orlando (Hard Rock Live), and more, as well as the newly announced Detroit, MI show on March 4 at The Fillmore. For all SMKC tour dates and tickets, visit: HERE.
SMKC’s first single, “The River Is Rising” which Rolling Stone described as “raucous” (2/3/2022) is now the band’s 8th Top 10 Radio single in a row. Check out the official video for “The River Is Rising” HERE; stream the new songs “Call Off The Dogs” HERE, and “Fill My World” HERE. SMKC performed “The River Is Rising” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! HERE, and SLASH joined host Jimmy Kimmel for a hilarious interview on the show, HERE. Last week, the band stopped by The Howard Stern Show and delivered a riveting performance of the Elton John classic song “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)”–which SMKC originally recorded for the documentary film Stuntman on Disney+; watch SMKC perform on The Howard Stern Show, HERE.A decade and four albums into their career, the new full-length album 4 marks the first new music from SMKC in four years. SLASH and the band, partnered with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), for the new album 4 resulting in the band’s strongest collective statement to date. Recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, TN, Cobb shared the band’s desire to lay down the tracks live in the studio–including guitar solos and vocals–a first for the group, revealing a stunning, vital sound and style all captured live. Read the new Q&A as SLASH and MYLES KENNEDY breakdown the new album 4, HERE.
4 is SMKC like you’ve never heard them before. A vibrant rock album fueled by memorable guitar hooks and compelling melodies, big choruses, and even bigger riffs, 4 hits on a wide range of sounds, styles, and moods in 10 songs, and does it all with laser-sharp musical focus and a lightning-in-a-bottle sense of immediacy. The album kicks off with opening track “The River is Rising,” one of the band’s toughest and most dynamic compositions to date, unraveling via a menacing, tightly-coiled riff and deep-in-the-pocket groove. From the deliberate stomp rock of “Whatever Gets You By,” the bright-toned, heart-on-sleeve pop-rocker “Fill My World,” to the talk box-drenched guitar hooks of “C’est La Vie,” exotica-tinged psychedelic fever dream of “Spirit Love,” the anthemic swell of “The Path Less Followed,” to the cowbell-inflected boogie-shake of “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” the grimy Aerosmith-esque funk of “April Fool,” to the rampaging attack of “Call Off the Dogs,” and climaxing with the epic, six minute album closer “Fall Back to Earth,” 4 is an album that grabs hold, and never lets go.
PHOTO-Ross Halfin
In light of the 30-year partnership between Gibson–the iconic American instrument brand–and the GRAMMY award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee SLASH, the new album 4, has the added distinction of being the first-ever album release on the new label Gibson Records, which is headquartered in Gibson’s hometown of Music City, Nashville, TN. Gibson released a limited, 250 count run of SLASH Les Paul Standard Limited 4 Album Edition guitars—which sold out on the day of release within two hours.
Early acclaim for SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, and their new album 4 is as follows:
“On 4, the fourth record by Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, he [Slash] captured the mojo he was after by recording most of the album live in a mere 10 days at Nashville’s RCA Studio A… For Slash, recording off the cuff was as liberating as he had hoped it would be, and not second-guessing himself contributed to the album’s eclecticism. There’s the heart-aching power ballad ‘Fall Back to Earth’ the glam-banging ‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’ and the euphoric first single, ‘The River Is Rising,’ which features a surging main riff, dissonant hooks, an infectious chorus and a guitar solo that conjures images of a rowdy bar brawl.”
–BILLBOARD
“From the insistent churn of the opening track and first single ‘The River Is Rising,’ to the slippery funk rhythms of ‘April Fool,’ the dinosaur-sized stomp of ‘Whatever Gets You By’ to the off-to-the-races sprint of ‘Call Of The Dogs,’ 4 hits with the immediacy of a great live show. …Slash & Co color outside the lines on tracks like the slinky, Eastern-tinged ‘Spirit Love’ and the uncharacteristically major-key pop-rock workout ‘Fill My World,’ as well as the widescreen epic ballad ‘Fall Back to Earth’ which closes the record in dramatic fashion. Overall, it’s a leaner, harder and more expansive take on the SMKC sound.”
–GUITAR WORLD (COVER story)
“Slash’s fourth album feat. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators hits all the right beats to be a modern rock classic. …A trove of silvery melodies, insta-hummable verses and more piledriver groves than one album should reasonably contain.”
–METAL HAMMER (8 out-of-10 review)
“All rich, roomy tones captured live in Nashville’s RCA Studios…Everything on 4 is deeper, looser and grittier.”
–CLASSIC ROCK (8-out-of-10 review)
“musically stinging crunch-rock…Many of the songs, such as ‘The Path Less Followed’ were written before the pandemic and draw influence from life experiences. Slash wrote the riff for the cinematic ‘Fall Back To Earth’ while on safari in South Africa, and the beautifully melodic ‘Fill My World’ reflects Kennedy’s sadness after seeing his Shih Tzu Mozart panicking during a storm.”
–USA TODAY
“At this point the Slash crew is well-honed, and 4 shows off the quintet’s brawny confidence along with a seamless interweaving of sources. In ‘The River Is Rising’- the opening track and first single – the quintet tears through a thunderous mingling of grunge (think Alice in Chains’ ‘Man in the Box’) with Tom Morello-leaning solo, ‘Paradise City’-style tempo changes and even a wink at Deep Purple‘s ‘Crazy’ at the very end. … ‘The Path Less Followed’ is a cranking, punching riff rocker while ‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’ chugs into heavy boogie… The six-and-a-half-minute [‘Fall Back to Earth’] comes like a hard-rock James Bond theme, dramatic and careening through texture changes as well as one of Slash’s trademark, biting solos…”
–ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK
“Slithering solos and crunchy choruses show why he remains the Potteries’ greatest musical export.”
–DAILY MAIL
“4 finds the band locked in and streamlined. Straight up, 4 is a record that could be played live without missing a beat or getting dull.”
–WALL OF SOUND
“The songs [on 4] are organic, urgent and upfront. Opener ‘The River is Rising’ is all the best of what you’d expect from the group: soaring choruses, hard-driving riffs and, of course, an explosive guitar solo. One of the most reliable vocalists in rock, Kennedy is on point here. ’Whatever Gets You By’ starts as a Doors-like blues romp that jumps into a southern rock fist-pumper. ‘C’est la vie’ builds around Slash’s wah-pedal-soaked guitar licks before the rest of the band joins on another blues-inspired rocker. ‘The Path Less Followed’ again taps into the past, sounding like it could have been recorded in the ’70s. It’s a breath of fresh air when hard rock songs emphasize melody over heaviness.”
–RIFF MAGAZINE
“a solid album jam packed with soaring vocals, unforgettable melodies, large choruses, and riffs that will blow your mind.”
–AQUARIAN
“Kennedy once again proves himself to be one of the best singers of the moment and Slash is once again the master of the riff. In short: with ‘4’ Slash, Myles & Co prove that they belong to the absolute world top!”
–AARDSCHOK (9-out-of-10 review, Netherlands)
“’4′ has a different vibe: rougher, more direct, less polished. (..) ‘4’ is a great record.”
–ROCK TRIBUNE (9 out-of-10 review, Belgium)
“When chemistry extraordinaire, unrelenting energy and deep mutual trust is put together, a recipe for success is born. After ten years together Slash, Myles Kennedy and THE CONSPIRATORS have achieved a distinctive, original sound with recognizable idiosyncrasies from each band member. At the same time 4 works as one fresh, original hard rock collection.”
–SPARK MAGAZINE (Czech Republic)
“An abundance of crunchy, classic-rock inspired riffs behind Myles Kennedy’s anthemic vocals.”
–GUITAR WORLD. COM
Source: PRIME PR GROUP, INC. / Libby Coffey LOS ANGELES, CA