Slash - Slash

It’s not hard to look humble next to Axl Rose, but Slash takes it to new heights by making a bit-part player of himself on his own solo album. Typically the one musical endeavour where egotism is positively encouraged, the former G'n’R guitarist has instead opted to stick to what he knows best (saying nothing, looking awesome, playing like a motherfucker) and leave the vocal duties to a cast of guest stars that includes heroes, contemporaries and the twat from Maroon Five. It’s unconventional and far from perfect, but more often than not it works; made completely free of pretension and strictly for kicks, this is a straight-ahead hard rock album that knows what it is and revels in it. There are misses, sure – although the Fergie team-up isn’t as bad as you’d think – but when it hits, like on the Iggy Pop-assisted We’re All Gonna Die or the propulsive goth-rock of Ghost, it hits like a beast. [Barry Nicolson]