PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
In 2009, the rock world got a kick up it’s collective butt, by a Supergroup by the name of Chickenfoot, not the worlds best band name, more of a working title, that never got changed. And so in 2011, they are back with their 2nd album, which no doubt will storm the charts, just like the debut did, and rightly so.
In September 2009, the RIAA certified the Chickenfoot debut as Gold, having sold 500,000 copies, so this follow up has a lot to live up to.
Its said that a bands 2nd album can be a laborious affair, with each member pulling in different musical directions, and some not wanting to be pulled at all, so to get round this sticky point in time, Chickenfoot had called their new second album, Chickenfoot III”.
After the first listen, its evident that they have not moved far from the original Chickenfoot sound, and why should they ?, it works, and it works well. The 2009 debut was in my top 10 of that year.
Sammy’s voice sounds remarkable well for somebody aged 63. He can still rock, when the mood takes him, in fact he still belts out those high notes better than some 20 year olds.
The first track, “Last Temptation” kicks it all of in big style, with Sammy screaming his lungs, a future live classic.
“Alright, Alright”, will become a firm favorite played live, as the crowd can easily sing along to this, simple yet effective.
There are also more “Thoughtful” tracks on this one, more Politics, less Sex, than the previous opus. “Three & A Half Letters” is a very strong song, taken from letters Sammy has received from enlisted men, but can be easily associated with the recession the whole world is currently suffering from. Despite the subject matter, this song just rocks.
Chickenfoot stated that they where gonna rock it up a bit on this new cd, and they have, but not by much, though it is the quieter tracks like “Come Closer” that make Sammy and the rest of the guys shine. Here Sammy is not trying to scream his way through the song, and on this track, one of the best on this new record i feel, it shows he can sing a Ballard, and the band can write one. This is up there with the best of them.
So the rest of the band ?,not a bad old bunch to help you make a record are they lol.
Joe seems content with letting Sammy take more of the limelight in certain songs than in others, like on “Different Devil”, however Joe doesn’t hold back his solos like he did on the debut. He was way too conservative for my liking, but this time he rips it up like we all know he can. His solo in “Lighten Up” is monstrous.
Michael Anthony’s Bass playing is as solid as ever, he chugg’s out a fair few riffs of his own on tracks like “’Dubai Blues'”, and “Lighten Up”, a track he shares a very dynamic rhythm section with drummer Chad smith. These two can lay down a heavy rock beat when they want.
“Big Foot” is the first single from the album, a simple bluesy, driving riff, with classic Hagar rock lyrics backed by a neat bass riff.
All in all, its another solid slab of good old American hard rock. 9/10
Tracklisting 
1. Last Temptation
2. Alright, Alright
3. Different Devil
4. Up Next
5. Lighten Up
6. Come Closer
7. Three and a Half Letters
8. Big Foot
9. Dubai Blues
10. Something Going Wrong
Formats.
Chickenfoot’s self-titled debut album became a real collector’s item due to its never-before-seen packaging initiative; once the front and back covers are touched, the black ink turns transparent, revealing pictures of band members and the album tracklisting.
Chickenfoot III will surely take-on the same level of collectability for its amazing 3-D packaging. All formats will come complete with special Chickenfoot 3-D glasses, which will enable fans to see the cover art and experience 3-D photos of the band. Without the glasses, fans will see only a plain, blank cover, only once the glasses are worn will the artwork come to life. The three formats are as follows:
Deluxe CD/DVD Limited Edition
Strictly limited, the deluxe edition of “III” includes 2 discs; the regular CD version of the album, plus a bonus DVD. The DVD disc features an EPK, including exclusive interviews with the band and behind-the-scenes footage, the ‘Big Foot’ and ‘Sexy Little Thing’ videos, and an explosive live version of ‘Turning Left’, recorded live in Phoenix, Arizona.
12” Vinyl Edition
Pressed on heavyweight 180gr vinyl, the 12” edition will come with a gatefold sleeve and an exclusive poster.
Standard Edition CD
The standard CD edition will come packaged in a high quality digipack.
Chickenfoot website is HERE
