The leering lothario of rock, Sir David of Coverdale, has once again taken out his pungi (oh matron, please!) and charmed another nest of vipers to join him on his quest for love.
This is an album of celebration and candour that combines the soul/funk-tinged blues mastery of early Whitesnake with the airwave-dominating hits-and-hairspray excess of the MTV years.
Opener ‘Steal Your Heart’ is a groin-thrusting rocker that combines seductive slide guitar and honking harmonica with the bombast of Zep’s ‘Black Dog’. ‘All Out of Luck’ sees the Cov-nor still rolling the dice and gambling with lady luck in a vocal performance that goes from leathery resignation, through growling indignation to hopeful hollering. The strutting swagger of ‘Love Will Set You Free’ sets guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach toe-to-toe trading sweaty riffs, seductive squeals and scorching solos.
However, a Whitesnake album would not be Serpens Albus without the merlot-sipping ballads. ‘One Of These Days’ has a warm porchside-at-dusk jam feel and ‘Fare Thee Well’ melds a sandpapery croon with an anthemic aria that packs its bag, turns up its collar and wanders wistfully into the fading light.
The Snake still got venom.