Customer Ratings & Reviews

Van Halen is at their best when they show their true passion for hard rock. On "A Different Kind of Truth", Eddie Van Halen writes a collection of songs which rival "Van Halen 1", "Women and Children First" and "Fair Warning". While David Lee Roth's vocals are not nearly as strong as they used to be, Roth can still write creative and clever lyrics and sign them in his signature style. Add Alex Van Halen's thunderous drumming and you have Van Halen firing on all cylinders. "A Different Kind of Truth" is one of Van Halen's best albums.

I grew up listening to Van Halen from 'Runnin With The Devil' to this day. Amazing CD proving that you really can go back...'Chinatown' and 'Bullethead' could easily fit on Fair Warning and that is saying something...Eddies playing is just amazing. I still cannot believe how hard this album is. Production is the same warm sounding thunder you grew up with...Daves wild vocals and sense of humor in full force, and Alex's cymbals are the ringing in your ears along with that familiar thunka, thunka...ting, ting, ting..Wolfie rounds out 'The Three Twins'. A great return to form.

I am sorry that Michael Anthony is not a part of this, but once you get past that, you won't look back at all. The album makes you feel like you have stepped back into a time warp. The music feels like it came right out of the early 80's, and in a way I guess it did. I did not have a problem with VH reworking unused tracks from previous albums, as it was their work to begin with, so I thought the sound was perfect. As much as I liked early Sammy Hagar Van Halen, you just didn't know how much you missed David Lee Roth until you hear them together again. Dave definitely brings out the best in Eddie and this is their best effort in a long time. As much as I wanted to rail against Wolfgang for displacing Anthony, I thought he did a great job. I didn't notice the hole left in the backing vocals as much as others did, and I didn't feel that the bass performance suffered as a result. This album definitely panders to the older crowd and nostalgia in general, but I feel it is a strong enough album on its own to win over some of the newer generation looking for something old, something new, something borrowed, something Dave.

When I heard the first track leaked in that of 'Tatoo" (which had seemingly no energy at all and was a unreleased track from 1978 called "Down in Flames"), I for all intents and purposes wrote this come back effort off. The next song I heard was a one minute snippet of the beginning of 'Stay Frosty", which sounded like "Ice Cream Man 2". I was actually laughing at what looked like to be the most obvious of train wrecks. Then came the lame cover which was spreading across the internet, and on top of that a total ripoff of the Commodores 1975 album "Movin' On". Then came word that the song "Blood & Fire" was a re-written version of an instrumental used in the 1984 flick "The Wild Life". One would think that there was no way that this album would be likeable to my ears, but this was NOT the case. Yes, I still can't stand the song "Tatoo", and I think that "Stay Frosty" is the second worst song on this album, but the rest is essential Van Halen, minus the sorely missed backup vocals of Michael Anthony. This record could easily be sandwiched among everything up to that of "Fair Warning" and it certainly eclipses "Diver Down" and "1984" among the Dave era. Songs such as "She's the Woman", "Honeybabysweetiedoll" , and "Outta Space" simply shred...This is one time in which I was dead wrong in what I thought this album was going to be...

It's been a very long time and no disrespect to Sammy and Michael, but this is the band they were meant to be. Eddie's guitar work is WELL? Eddie Van Halen!! need I say more? And considering that Wolfgang was still a gleam in Eddie's eye the last time they cut an album this good this kid keeps up with his old man and doesn't miss a trick. After all the craziness DLR has been through in the last 25 years he seems to have held up pretty well. The "attitude" is still papable! And lastly Alex is an absolute power house as always, he never ceases to amaze me. So far I have only listened through once and I'm sure it''s gonna get some playtime for the next few weeks. Very refreshing to hear a SERIOUS rock band again.

This work should have been titled Van Halen III. It's as if we have gone back in time and picked up where they left off at Van Halen II. This IS the original formula and DNA that drew me to them 20 years ago. My concern all along was the gap that Michael Anthony's absence would make. This worry=FAIL. My apologies to Wolfgang for ever doubting. Not only does Wolf fill the gap, he outplays Anthony. I am quite sure that Sammy and Michael listened to this and said, "Dang, they did it" (they probably didn't say "dang"). BOTTOM LINE: This is a SAFE purchase. Every song is fantastic! Now, listen… you guys GET ALONG! We want another album! Let me close this review by repeating the words of David Lee Roth as he spoke them in Blood and Fire: "I told you I'd be back. Tell me you missed me. Say it like you mean it!"

This new album is wicked. Eddie isat his best, even surpassing other works (Son Wolf may have some influence there watching over dad). Alex, as always is solid gold and probably breaking several sticks per gig. The verdict is still out on Wolfgang, but if he plays on stage as clean and polished as in the studio, this young man is for real. David Lee has still got the range and the raw contagious attitude. How has aging affected their acrobatic antics on stage ? They certainly have been working on their chops and no other band in their genre can compete with them individually or as a unit. My son and I will find out for ourselves on April 27th, 2012, at the Bridgestone in Nashville. Favorite cut: China Town. This album kicks butt.

If you are a classic VH fan you will love this CD. I would agree with the other reviews. It is as if this album was recorded in their heyday. Eddie Van Halen is still one of the greatest guitarists of the modern era and Wolfgang has improved since the 2007 tour. Track 2 " She's the woman" may be one of the greatest VH songs ever!!! My four year old jams out to "Tattoo" it's his favorite song!!! Cant wait to see this album live in Houston in June!!! VH still rules!!!!!

With Diamond Dave back in the fold, Eddie and the boys really up the ante and simply kick out the jams. In particular, Eddie just absolutely wails on every cut; he hasn't sounded this ferocious and hungry in forever. I don't have any problems with Alex and Wolfgang's work in the rhythm section, either. This one has got that classic Van Halen sound with a few modern touches here and there. I truly think this is their best all around effort since Women and Children First. And Dave is the only VH singer that ever mattered; sorry Sammy.

Sammy and Michael are gone but David Lee Roth is back, this album sounds like it was released in 1980. No sappy ballads or covers like Diver Down had, only hard rocking songs.

It has been 28 years since I bought a Van Halen album. The last Van Halen album I bought until today, was the 1984 album. The new David Lee Roth/Van Halen album kicks butt. The album has a heavier sound, than previous David Lee Roth/Van Halen albums. Dave's voice sounds great, and Eddie, as always, kicks butt on the guitar.

Long live Van Halen... STAY FROSTIE...!!! The only thing that would make it any better would be if Sammy & Michael would be invited back... A super group the likes the world has never seen... Food for thought...

Enjoyed this album. excellent music by one of my favorite bands.