Review: The Winery Dogs

Here's the latest project from world renowned musicians, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Richie Kotzen, called The Winery Dogs. OK. I'll give you a few minutes to calm down...

(10 minutes pass by)

OK. Now, I need to give a quick history behind this album before I go into the review. This was originally supposed to be a project between Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan, with another individual that just didn't wind up working out. It was through Eddie Trunk that they were introduced to Richie Kotzen. All three of these musicians are powerhouses on their own, each having an impressive resume that reads like a who's who in the worlds of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal:

Mike Portnoy: Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob, Flying Colors, to name a few.

Billy Sheehan: Mr. Big, Steve Vai, Niacin, UFO, Michael Schenker Group, to name a few.

Richie Kotzen: Poison, Mr. Big, Greg Howe, among others.

Now, we have these three amazingly talented musicians in one group, The Winery Dogs. This is a powerful super group if ever there was one. This is a trio with talent on the same level as Rush. This album is decidedly one of the best pieces of true Hard Rock to come out in over a decade. With that being said, on with the review!

The first track as soon as the album starts is "Elevate". This song is a fast paced rocker that really gives a preview of what's to come. It sets a good pace and as it goes on, showcases the musical skill of the band as a whole. "I'm No Angel", the album's fourth track is a slower paced soulful song, that is just drips emotion. Kotzen really knows how to make his guitar sing as powerfully as his voice. This is easily one of my favorite songs here, if for no other reason than the raw emotional feel of it. Tracks like "Desire," "You Saved Me," and "One More Time," just serve to show case the diversity of this album as a whole from fast paced, to slow and introspective, to a bit more funky and fun. The last track on the album, "Regret," is easily one of my absolute favorite tracks on the album. This song has a strong blues vibe coupled with amazing lyrics. It's easy to get lost in this song, it's the perfect rainy day song. Overall, this album is one that you can turn on at any time and just lose yourself in. It's a great ride all the way through, meaning there aren't any songs I felt like skipping over, as can happen from time to time.

RATING: 10/10

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