It feels just like yesterday I saw The Dead Daisies opening for KISS. It wasn’t. In fact, it was nearly 5 years ago. A lot has changed for this hard rock supergroup since. Although calling The Dead Daisies a supergroup may be a stretch in and of itself. If anything, they’re a revolving musical door, a who’s who of hard rock. The lineup on their latest album, Holy Ground, consists of Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), Deen Castronovo (Bad English, Hardline, Journey), and founding guitarist/Australian renaissance man David Lowy. And while Holy Ground was just released this past Friday, as of this writing, there’s been yet another personnel change, with Ozzy Osbourne drummer Tommy Clufetos replacing Castronovo.
The Dead Daisies aren’t breaking any new ground in what they do, but they’re certainly been one of the better acts of the “classic meets modern rock” trend. Their fifth album, Holy Ground, continues this formula. However, unlike past DD albums, the influence of one particular member in a lineup has never been more evident than it is now. The influence I’m referring to is that of new frontman Glenn Hughes.
With all due respect to the past and present members of The Dead Daisies, Hughes is in a league of his own. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, universally regarded as “The Voice of Rock”, and Stevie Wonder’s favorite singer. Taking this into account, it should be no surprise that Hughes’s creative footprint would be all over this album and that’s for the better. As much as I love former singer John Corabi, I’ll take Hughes over him any day because I’ll take Hughes over most of my favorite singers any day.
Many of these songs channel previous chapters in Hughes’s storied career. The thick, heavy grooves of “Come Alive” recall classic Mk. III Deep Purple, while “Chosen and Justified” sounds like a modern take on a Trapeze song. The majority of Holy Ground is simple and soulful which is the style Hughes is known for. Even during moments that are held back by compressed production and generic post-grunge riffs (“My Fate”, “Saving Grace”), Hughes’s impeccable voice cuts like a knife. At nearly 70 years old, he’s singing better than ever and clearly enjoying it.
Keeping in tradition with past DD albums, Holy Ground wouldn’t be complete without a cover. On this one, the band pays tribute to the late Steve Marriott with a cover of Humble Pie’s “30 Days in the Hole”. In last year’s review of Ace Frehley’s Origins Vol. 2 , I praised Robin Zander for his fiery performance of this hard rock hymn. I didn’t think any other singer could hold a candle to Marriott, but leave it to Hughes to prove me wrong.
I don’t know what the future holds for The Dead Daisies. Hell, by the time I publish this, there could be yet another lineup change. I just hope for their sake that Hughes is in it for the long haul. He’s given this band a much needed kick in the ass, as well as the potential to go from good to great. Let’s hope they don’t blow it.
6 out of 10
Label: Steamhammer
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Black Country Communion