[7/10] When news started doing the rounds about the formation of Chickenfoot a little over a year ago, I’ll admit that I was a little dubious as to how the band would actually sound should they eventually make it into the studio given the somewhat eclectic line-up.

But despite my reservations, Chickenfoot (who comprise of ex-Montrose/Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar, guitarist virtuoso Joe Satriani, ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith) have finally delivered their debut self-titled effort, and the results are actually far stronger than I originally anticipated.

What really surprises me most about Chickenfoot is the fact that nine of the 11 tracks are written and composed by Hagar and Satriani, both of whom come from completely different musical backgrounds. But given that Satriani’s statement about wanting to rock out with a group, and the fact that his playing throughout the album is pared back to its rawest elements, it’s evident that the pair has managed to gel their collaborative efforts into one completely rocking album.

Sounding reminiscent of the darker and more menacing sounding material that appeared on Van Halen’s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album from 1991, “Avenida Revolution” (a popular tourist strip in Tijuana that runs alongside the U.S./Mexican border) is full of slow burning/thick sounding riffs and thumping prominent bass work, and works well at allowing the band to announce themselves in a heavy fashion.Satriani’s trademark sound is well and truly evident throughout his work on “Soap On A Rope,” the driving “Turnin’ Left” and on the energetic first single/promotional video “Oh Yeah,” and surprisingly enough doesn’t sound as out of place as it does on paper.

Elsewhere, tracks such as the catchy “Sexy Little Thing,” “My Kinda Girl,” “Runnin’ Out” and the down and dirty/blues tinged “Down The Drain” are more like a mix of Hagar’s solo work/Van Halen output, with Anthony helping draw out the comparisons with his strong presence on backing vocals.

Chikenfoot’s debut is a pretty straight forward rocking effort, with “Learning To Fall” being the only ballad, leaving the experimental/heavy funk/middle eastern flavoured anthem “Future Is The Past” to finish the album off with a bang.

Despite playing down the sugergroup tag that’s been placed on them, there’s no doubt there’s definite chemistry within Chickenfoot, and one that’s sure to become more apparent should the band continue to work together on a second release in the future.

www.chickenfoot.us