Beyond the tragedy the history the raging guitars and the killer songs ultimately Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable willabout survival of spirit unbowed uniquely American stubbornly resolute.With their first set of new studio material since 2003s Vicious Cycle legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with God Guns. Recorded in Nashville in 2008-2009 the project was interruptedbut tellingly not endedby the deaths of founding member/keyboardist Billy Powell and longtime bassist Ean Evans earlier this year.Driven by core members Gary Rossington (guitar) Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar) along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone Lynyrd Skynyrd have recorded an album that very much lives up to the legacy begun some 35 years ago in Jacksonville Florida and halted for a decade by the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then the band tragically lost Allen Collins Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson yet they rock on.With the passing of Powell and Evans a lot of people probably expected us to say enough is enough admits Medlocke. But that would not be the way of this Rock Roll Hall of Fame powerhouse. With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to all generations and God Guns is a fitting addition to the canon.   ... >>