After the sudden death of one more of the original line-up members, keyboardist Billy Powell, last January, Lynyrd Skynyrd found the strength to carry on their musical journey. Although they have been struck with bad luck throughout their long career, they always manage to find the courage and go on. Guitarist Gary Rossington is now the only surviving original member of the band. Skynyrd’s new, 12^th in the row, album “God & Guns” was not finished with Billy Powell on the keyboards, but his keyboards can be heard on more than half songs in the album.

“God & Guns” follows the familiar Lynyrd Skynyrd sound enriched with modern country music elements, like for example “Simple Life”. “Still Unbroken” is the first track of the album and at the same time the first single and video. I can say that it is the best choice to be the opener of the album, with some wonderful lyrics and breathtaking passion and strength. The next tracks loosen up a little bit, but no way do they lack power and quality. “Simple Life’” and “Little Thing Called You” are definitely among the best compositions of the album. Then it’s “Southern Ways”, a trip-taking song, the groovy “Skynyrd Nation”, the power ballad “Unrwrite That Song” and the heavy “Floyd”. Along with the rest titles such as “That Ain’t My America”, “Coming Back For More”, the title track “God & Guns”, “Storm” and one more ballad, “Gifted Hands”, compose a more than enjoyable tracklist.

The band’s usual long guitar solos are rather limited in the new “God & Guns” but with such good songs I personally don’t mind. Besides, when the band still has the feeling and is able to write such great songs after so many years, the rest is rather details. The album is so good that once you’re through listening to it you want to play it over and over on your CD player. A great piece of work that proves that Skynyrd still have a lot to offer!

No doubt, “God & Guns” is one of the best releases of 2009! Worldwide fans of south and country rock should grab Skynyrd’s new effort without a second thought. ‘These ol’ southern boys ain’t gonna let you down!’...