The infamous and original SLASH needs no introduction to the world of Heavy Metal. This album is the result of collaboration with ALTER BRIDGE vocalist and guitarist, Myles Kennedy. The album was essentially recorded live, with the entire band jamming together in one room, and SLASH creating and playing his solos on the spot. The album, "World on Fire", contains 17 tracks. Those looking for a strong, fresh, and energy fueled collection of modern day Hard Rock, will find solace here. If it weren't for the immediately recognizable thick, crunchy tone of SLASH's Les Paul, and no-nonsense skillfully composed solos that have become his trademark, you might associate this band with the man, especially when considering his earlier work following the departure from GUNS 'N ROSES. This is completely meant as a complement towards the product and offerings from this album. There are a wide variety of sounds and influences here within the albums monstrous 17 track creation. Some of it has that old school GUNS 'N ROSES feel, as if they were missing tracks from the "Use Your Illusions" days, like the gritty, sinister, punchy riff and bad-boy attitude of "Wicked Stone", complete with a memorable chorus full of harmonic vocal layering, or the running, southern-tinged guitar riff of "Withered Delilah", where the key changes brightly at the start of the chorus. Some of the tracks are also very introspective and more from the heart, like the clean guitar bliss and emotional vocal performance in "Bent to Fly", where Myles' high tenor and liberal use of vibrato remind you of why he is one of the more well-known, respected and versatile singers in the genre today. Or, the positive feeling and dreamy quality of "Battleground", where each accentuated chord change, tugs right at your emotions.

Nor should I fail to mention, the track "Iris of the Storm", where SLASH uses that scale approach to the main riff similar to "Sweet Child of Mine", and a guitar solo with a heavy dose of wah-wah. There are also some good, rhythmic mid-tempo songs, from the track "Shadow Life", which has a strong soulful feeling peppered with plenty of hooks, to the dirty guitar solo and big chorus in "Too Far Gone", and the bluesy pulse of "Dirty Girl". Still, others focus more on the collective energy of the group brought together at the same time, as in the title track, "World on Fire", which sounds like the soundtrack for a raucous party, with a lively energy, drawn out chorus, and especially fitting guitar solo, or the festive and upbeat sounds of "Avalon". The best track on the album for me is the straightforward melody and pop sensibility of "The Dissident". I don't think it's a stretch to say that this solo project for SLASH is his best one to date. There is synergy here that is easily heard, where the sum of the whole outweighs the sum of the individual members. This is difficult to accomplish with big name musicians, but when they focus on the energy and flow of their product, over anything they want in particular by themselves, the music has a way of taking on a life of its own.<