ROCKET REVIEW: MICK MARS – “The Other Side Of Mars” (CD)

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars, 72, has unleashed his debut solo album “The Other Side Of Mars” and this jamming collection of ten totally crushing rockers will impress any fan of rock n roll music. Produced by Michael Wagener, the album features two different vocalists, Jacob Bunton and Brion Gamboa, along with keyboardist Paul Taylor (Winger), Chris Collier on bass and drummer Ray Luzier (Korn). Mick Mars blazes the frets on this masterwork in a furious display of rock dominance, letting all of his detractors know that he is the most famous and best player alive on the six strings today. After the rock world lost Jeff Beck last year, it’s safe to say that nobody else in the guitar world at this moment has a more legendary body of work than Mick Mars.

Leading off with the first single dropped from the effort “Loyal To The Lie”, Mars and vocalist Bunton have clearly developed a perfect chemistry together as the fast tempo tune grabs you by the ears with its gritty vibe and all out heaviness. “You’re loyal to the lie,” sings Bunton with a voice that combines elements of early Robert Plant, dripping with a soulful, bluesy delivery, also very reminiscent of the Crue’s best singer John Corabi. However, the following track “Broken On The Inside”, turns the intensity up another notch. This song is a masterwork and the riff and soloing on this cut sounds heavier than anything Mars ever did with MÖTLEY CRÜE. I want to give credit to bassist Chris Collier for his fantastic mixing and mastering job as the engineer on the album. This is one of those times where it really is a team effort, because Mars could have easily released something that sounded gimmicky (or released a bunch of clunkers and one too many slow ballads) and it would have all fell flat. Mick could have easily rested on his laurels and just wrote a bunch of Crue ripoff songs like Kerry King copied Slayer for his solo material. Mick went the opposite route and surrounded himself with an A-list rock group of real musicians who made sure to guide him on the right path and it paid off big time.

Up next is “Alone” and “Killing Breed” (featuring singer Gamboa on the one of two tracks he totally kills it on), followed by “Memories” and the brilliant “Right Side Of Wrong.”

The best song on the album, in my opinion, however, belongs to track seven’s totally epic “Ready To Roll.”

Mick’s debut solo album concludes with the absolutely compelling “Undone”, “Ain’t Going Back” and the super bluesy “LA Noir.” Any fan of good rock music will want to add this album to their collection. I can’t wait to hear the follow up to this smashing debut by a true guitar legend.