Got this from Escapimusic.com:
Cactus
They were called "The American Led Zeppelin" back in 1970. Tall words, indeed, but Cactus—Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert, Jim McCarty and the late Rusty Day (who died in 1982)—came out only months after their Brit counterparts, only to flame out brightly after four albums (Cactus, One Way…Or Another, ‘Ot ‘n’ Sweaty and Restrictions) before 1973 even started. Now, 33 years later, comes V on Escapi Records. The band that made such an impression with their loud blues-edged hard rock madness…the band that influenced the likes of Van Halen, Monster Magnet, King’s X, Billy Sheehan, David Coverdale and Kid Rock (documented in interviews)…the band that foreshadowed heavy music itself…is back and in rare form. And this time Carmine, Timmy and Jim have ex-Savoy Brown lead singer Jimmy Kunes providing the lusty macho soul. His leather-lunged pipes atop this hot’n’nasty blues-metal machine makes for some quality Classic Rock.
Drummer Appice and bassist Bogert had come to the band fresh off their pioneering Vanilla Fudge ‘60s experience. Originally, they were to join forces with Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart but Beck suffered a car accident so legend has it Appice found McCarty from Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels playing with The Buddy Miles Express. He also found vocalist Day in The Amboy Dukes with Ted Nugent. Thus was born Cactus.
"All the elements were brought forward," says Appice, relating the joyous, timeless music on V with the legacy of the band’s past recordings. "When we put the songs together, we did it the same way as in the old days. It’s the same band, so the musical arrangements are very similar. We got a singer who has a very raspy voice…and we always have harmonica in the pot. We tried to keep it as true to the original band as possible. I guess you would say the Cactus sound is a very raunchy, raw, kind of basic sound. It’s not over-produced, and there’s a lot of energy. It’s straight-to-the-point rock music. And the harmonica gives it that blues vibe."
"Muscle And Soul," "Gone Train Gone" and "Blame Game" recall the mighty Mountain. But it’s the bouncy "Cactus Music" that really lets fly. Kunes is a blues rock incarnate on this irresistible cross between funk and hard ‘70s rock. It’s like the greatest song Grand Funk Railroad never wrote. Lyrically, it’s a declaration that a boogie rock party is to be had, and no one in the house is left a doubter.
That party begins as V leaps from your woofers and knocks you out of your chair. It continues as the band hits the road in both America and Europe, resulting in an eagerly awaited live DVD to arrive later this year. All told, those of us too young to have been there are in for a treat, as this "American Led Zeppelin" hits us with both barrels throughout the hot months of ’06.
Imma be sure to check this out, Cactus is awfully overlooked!