CD Review by Brian D. Holland.

Fans of classic rock have a tendency to think the era is completely over and that nobody makes music like they used to. For the most part, unfortunately, the idea is partially true. However, even when classic rock bands release new CDs, no matter who those bands might be, old fans don’t always bother to give the CDs the listen they deserve or the benefit of the doubt. Of course, many classic rock listeners are too busy to bother; seriousness has erased the desire from their weary minds. Many become too old to care. There are some who have gone so straight in their paths of thought that listening to good ol’ rock and roll is like reliving a nightmarish flashback.

Let’s forget about them.

For those who, in spite of everything, want to rock like the old days, and hear guitar players wail some quality lead fills and solos, and hear some good ol’ funky, hard driving blues-rock played just as good as ever, you can keep on smiling. If you still crave passionate vocals hollered out in crazed, whiskey soaked angst, it’s still out there. You’ll find a lot of it if you look hard enough.

One of those refreshing new releases is Cactus V. Back in the day, Cactus had a following of diehard rockers who understood what they were all about. The band’s existence was kind of a fluke, as Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice were originally slated to join forces with Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck. Sidelined by life’s circumstances, the outcome became Cactus, a hard driving boogie-rock machine, in the Humble Pie and Free mode.

The members of Cactus were already known for previous individual triumphs. Success with Cactus merely furthered an already successful drive toward rock and roll fame. Out of a handful of releases with this band, their most successful was the first one, Cactus, released in 1970. One Way ... Or Another, released the following year, didn’t receive the same recognition but was a quality album as well. It was actually their last studio release.

To say a classic band is better today than in their heyday is often followed by skepticism and doubt. However, Cactus V sparkles with blistering boogie driven songs. The original Cactus and Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, two names often celebrated and talked about more than the actual groups they were members of, live up to expectation. Add in original Cactus guitarist extraordinaire, Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Buddy Miles, The Rockets), and UK vocalist Jimmy Kunes, and you’ve got today’s Cactus, a hard driving hard-rock engine.

Being labeled ‘The American Led Zeppelin’ is no doubt a hard alias to live up to. Whether or not Cactus were/are able to do that is irrelevant, because they don’t receive much ridicule for it either. Although the band never really hit world-renowned status and fame, and it’s anyone’s guess as to why they didn’t, they still gained respect from the biggest names in rock music over the years, mainly for their explosive energy and sheer rock prowess. Fans finally have a fifth release to rock on with. We’ve waited 34 years for Cactus V. The songs are energetic and powerful. The album would easily have been a mammoth achievement back in the day. In my opinion, Cactus V became classic after the first listen. It’s classic in a modern era, which makes it even better.


Cactus V Track Listing

1. Doing Time

2. Muscle And Soul

3. Cactus Music

4. The Groover

5. High In The City

6. Day For Night

7. Living For Today

8. Shine

9. Electric Blue

10. Your Brother’s Keeper

11. Blues For Mr. Day (Instrumental)

12. Part Of The Game

13. Gone Train Gone

14. Jazzed (Instrumental)

Label: Escapi

Links:
Buy Cactus V
Cactus