Lynyrd Skynyrd
God & Guns

I waited a long time before posting this review, partly due to a lack of time but mostly because I wanted to thoroughly listen to the CD in question before discussing it, so as not to be influenced by the excitement of holding a new work from a band I love dearly beyond just the musical aspect.

And finally, here in my possession is "God and Guns," the much-anticipated new work by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which has already stirred fans worldwide between detractors (though few) and supporters of this album. And here's my take before delving into the details: wonderful, I like it, I find it very fun and engaging, excellent songs (the only one I don't like is Floyd), it's a great pleasure to listen to and leaves me with a great sense of satisfaction and emotional charge after listening... but let's delve deeper and examine the subject more closely.

It's been six years since the last studio work of Skynyrd, that "Vicious Cycle" from 2003, which in some way celebrated the thirty years of prestigious yet troubled history of the band from Jacksonville. Meanwhile, fate continued to afflict the members of this strange and unfortunate family with the passing of Hughie Thomasson, then Ean Evans and Billy Powell, who nonetheless had time to partially collaborate in the making of this project.

The title, God and Guns, encapsulates in two simple words the essence of the American people's history and spirit, as Johnny Van Zant recently stated in various interviews. The song with the same title within the album is its manifesto, and it's true that one cannot fault it when revisiting the more or less recent history of the United States of America in all its various evolutions, revolutions, and facets.

It should be noted that Lynyrd's sound has become over time less blues and increasingly country rock oriented in the style of the Van Zant brothers, meaning Johnny and Donnie, who together have created some excellent albums in perfect country rock style. This album confirms that in tracks like Simple Life, another declaration of love for their land, their roots, their traditions, and let's also say an unsuppressed southern pride, just as in Southern Ways, Unwrite That Song, That Ain't My America and the very same God and Guns with its evocative initial western atmosphere. Meanwhile, Rickey Medlocke's almost hard rock stylistic influence is felt more prominently in Still Unbroken, a revealing piece of the band's nature in light of their recent history, although it's a track that had been lying in the drawers for some time according to statements from JVZ, Little Thing Called You and Comin' Back for More with a very airy sound that we could almost define as "commercial" without diminishing its quality, continuously narrating stories and situations of an America that is far more present and real than one might believe, reiterating once more that America is not just New York and the various glittering metropolises we see daily.

Needless to say, the most die-hard and nostalgic fans of the band turn their noses up at sounds so different from the origins. There are even groups online that consider Lynyrd Skynyrd a musical group only up until the tragic 1977 and that's it, an attitude I find absurd, just as it is absurd to compare the current band with the past considering that Gary Rossington is the only remaining member to testify to its origins and history, leaving aside the bit about Rickey Medlocke who, entering briefly as a drummer, left almost immediately due to apparent strong contrasts with leader Ronnie Van Zant.

We're talking about different musical eras, alchemies between people, friends, musicians unfortunately unrepeatable and thus there's no point in comparing the original sound with the current one. Simply put, one can judge if the songs and concerts are still worthy of attention, and I find they absolutely are. But in my opinion, even more so, continuing to be a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd over time means being part of a community, a large, enormous family, it means loving a symbol and an icon of music, for better or worse.

Two words, finally, about the beautiful packaging of the Special Edition which contains 2 CDs with 3 bonus tracks and 3 live tracks more than the regular edition, a beautiful booklet with all the lyrics and evocative photographs, and above all a moving and dutiful remembrance of Billy Powell and Ean Evans with a beautiful photo and dedication.

I must also add that the graphics of this entire project are really spot on and suggestive.