• Wed. Oct 9th, 2024

Devil’s Hand – Fantastic New AOR Release Combines Mike Slamer and Andrew Freeman’s Talents!

Devil’s Hand is the new project featuring the union of two icons in the music business: Mike Slamer and Andrew Freeman.

Mike Slamer’s projects in the music world over the years include Streets in the 80s with former Kansas singer Steve Walsh, and 70s rockers City Boy. The man gets around, and certainly has remained active over the decades. Andrew Freeman is best known these days for fronting the Dio spin-off band Last in Line, but has also performed with the likes of Lies Deceit and Treachery, Offspring, Lynch Mob, and Hurricane. He’s also performed with the Raiding the Rock Vault classic rock tribute show in Las Vegas.

Given the sheer musical diversity and different directions the two bring to the table, I was curious to see where this album would go, which also features drummer Chet Wynd in addition to the Freeman/Slamer duo. Is the union between these rockers , both of whom have pretty solid bodies of work under their belts, one worth exploring?

Largely comprised of classic AOR-style melodic rock, the debut release from Devil’s Hand is a surprisingly powerful one. About a week prior to this review, I published a “Best of the Year” list, and it’s a shame this release slipped under my radar because it for sure would have ended up somewhere in said list had I heard it beforehand. But you know what they say about better late than never!

What is truly surprising about the album is how diverse the tracklist is. Freeman claimed in interviews the album would be “more commercial” than some of his previous efforts, but any fears you have can be put to rest. This isn’t a pop album or a cry out for more mainstream attention. Some tracks are a little more modern flavored than others, but it’s not a bad thing by any means. The album’s set of tracks runs the gamut from traditional AOR-style rockers to more gritty and bluesy tracks, and even acoustic-style ballads. Slamer is an instrumental genius, but the real hero of the day is Freeman, who can adapt to sing literally anything, regardless of what the song requires.

Devil’s Hand hopefully won’t be relegated to a one-album wonder status, because I can’t wait to see what else Slamer and Freeman have in store for us the second time around, if there is indeed a second record sometime in the future. It’s an AOR masterpiece with a beautifully diverse set of tracks. Part throwback, part modern, all excellent rock and roll. These one gets my absolute highest recommendation. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking it, like I almost did!

By Taylor T Carlson

Taylor T Carlson Assistant Editor/Senior Staff Writer Taylor T. Carlson was born August 17, 1984, and has called the Vegas Valley home his entire life. A die-hard fan of classic rock and metal music, Taylor has been writing album and concert reviews since he was 16 years old, and continues to do so, having done well over 1,000 reviews. He is also a fan of video gaming and cinema, and has reviewed a number of games and films as well, old and new alike. His thorough and honest (some would say brutally honest) reviewing style has won him the respect of hundreds of music fans and musicians alike, both local and abroad, and the ire of just as many others. Despite being one of the youngest attendees at classic hard rock/metal shows around Vegas, he is also one of the most knowledgeable, having gained the unofficial nickname of “The Eddie Trunk of Las Vegas.” In addition to reviews, Taylor has written and self-published three books on classic hard rock bands, and is a regular participant in rock and roll trivia contests. Taylor also holds a masters degree in special education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and has appeared on the hit History Channel television series Pawn Stars. His dream is to be able to one day make a living from writing music books and reviews.

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