Former Guns n’ Roses and current Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan is back with his side band Loaded. The band’s last offering was a fun, punky musical statement but was not seen as something that McKagan would ever take seriously. This time, with The Taking, McKagan has released an album that could make this band his full time gig.

He has traded in the bass for guitar and he has an awesome voice for this type of music. Loaded is a band that plays a hybrid rock and punk with a modern Foo Fighters edge. The band has grown leaps and bounds and created an album that is cross-generational. Teenagers to younger Grandpas and Grandmas will all be cranking this one up.

The best tracks on the disc are “Lords of Abbadon,” “Executioner’s Song,” “Dead Skin” and “We Win.” But there is really not a bad track on the entire album. This one rocks hard and will keep Duff busy until VR gets back in the studio.