The Winery Dogs
Hot Streak

The Dogs are Back! Yes, these three hounds have returned with their second studio effort, which saw the light in 2015 and goes by the name of "Hot Streak." The supergroup formed by Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan once again impresses with a Hard Rock album, but full of Funk and bluesy influences that make the album even more varied and enjoyable to listen to. And that's precisely what's great about it. It moves from purely Hard Rock songs like the opener "Oblivion" (in my opinion, the best on the album) or "Captain Love," to more Funk moments like "How Long" and the beautiful Title Track. Also beautiful is "Empire," which features a great solo by Kotzen, and the soul-oriented "Think It Over." An honorary mention also goes to "Ghost Town," "The Bridge," and "Devil You Know." The underrated "War Machine" is also quite nice. What to say about the three musicians? Obviously, we're talking about true masters. Portnoy fits perfectly in the role, creating grooves that are both technical and impactful, and quite engaging. Sheehan is Sheehan, his bass manages to give a different personality to each track, blending perfectly with Mike's drums. But it's the great Richie Kotzen who surprises the most. Besides being a phenomenal guitarist like few others, his stunning voice always guarantees high-quality vocal performances, which have absolutely nothing to envy from more renowned colleagues. Even though it is just a notch below its predecessor, "Hot Streak" really confirms itself as a great album. I wish this band the longest life possible, especially if the records they produce will all be of this quality. Well done, dogs!