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TONY MONTANA
TOMBSTONE SHUFFLE
Axe Killer
Produced by: Tony Montana
Released: OUT NOW / Website
Relatives: Great White, Guns N Roses
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 83%

  1. Tombstone Shuffle
  2. Little Queen
  3. On My Heels
  4. Premonition / Rock-It Man
  5. Prayer
  6. Cowboy Song
  7. Thunderbird
  8. One By One
  9. Skin And Bones
  10. Shuffle '97
  11. Dog*
  12. Netherworld*
God only knows what has happened the Japanese release of Tony's album, goo dluck trying to order it! Thankfully axe Killer in France have come to the rescue and have a new version of the album out, with new artowrk and a revisted track listing - dropping the track San Antonio and adding two new ones - Dog and Netherworld.
Tony Montana is the former bass player for much loved blues rockers Great White. This is his debut solo album, recorded for Japan and hopefully soon to be made available through a wider release.
I hope this happens, because this is a great rock n roll record. There is a whole bunch of influences that shine through on Tombstone Shuffle, but the main thing that grabbed me was the aggressive attitude the songs have. This really rocks!
Tony's voice has an attitude of it's own, as does the music, but to best describe him I would say he is a little Axel Rose meets Robert Plant and Jack Russell.
The songs are varied. There are references to Guns N Roses, a little blues rock courtesy of Great White, a little Sebastian Bach (Tombstone Shuffle), a little Robert Plant/Led Zeppelin (Premonition/Rock It Man) and even the Bulletboys on Thunderbird.
4 tracks, 4 styles, but all flowing together well. The opening two tracks really have a swagger to them.
Heavy blues tinged sleaze rock that should go down a treat. Then there is a little Zeppelin, a little blues, an excellent cover of Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and a couple of Great White inspired acoustic ballads with Prayer and One By One.
The two news tracks are pretty cool. Dog is a raw blues hard rocker and Netherworld is a laid back more alternative acoustic track with a Jack Russel vocal.
BOTTOM LINE: I like this album a lot. It appeals to the side of me that digs bands like Great White, Bulletboys, Guns N Roses and Skid Row. If that sounds like part of your CD collection, then I recommend you sample some Tony Montana soundbytes.
With a great production this album highlights the best of Tony's songwriting and playing skills. He's also a pretty fine singer.
PRODUCTION: 85% SONGS: 80% VIBE: 80%ATTITUDE: 85%
ESSENTIAL FOR: Fans of LA area blues / sleaze rock and some Great White & Guns N Roses fans.




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