There is nothing better than some head banging hard rock when you need to get pumped up right before a big sports event or even when you need to vent your frustrations on a bad day. On July 3, 2007 we'll be able to do turn on Velvet Revolver's new album Libertad courtesy of RCA Records. The timing couldn’t have been planned better since the release date falls one day before the US Independence Day and Libertad means "freedom" in Spanish. When Velvet Revolver's first album Contraband was released in 2004, it was a huge success. Libertad is going to surpass fan’s expectations now three years later. And really, how could it not? Three of the five band members are former Guns N' Roses musicians - Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums). The three picked up Dave Kushner, formerly of Wasted Youth, and he became a second guitarist. The only problem was the missing lead singer. So VH1 joined forces with them during their search and ended up releasing a documentary, VH1 Inside Out: The Rise of Velvet Revolver. A rise indeed, because the lead singer they recruited was none other than past lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland.Brendan O'Brien, former producer of the Stone Temple Pilot albums, helped to produce Libertad along with the Velvet Revolver crew. The album will be released in two formats: a CD which will include a video documentary on the making of Libertad, and the second format will be a CD/DVD which will include a bonus 30 minute documentary on their recent tour in South America. I don’t know about you, but I’m nosey enough to want to check out what the guys of Velvet Revolver do behind the scenes.The first single of the album went on the air on May 21st, “She Builds Quick Machines.” It was available five days earlier on iTunes, which is probably due to the fact that it was included in CSI: NY on CBS that night, May 16th. The song is circulating at fast speeds and has even been played live on Jay Leno’s, “The Tonight Show,” since its release. Slash has also confirmed it will be included as a song in the upcoming “Guitar Hero:III.” (There is a possibility more than one VR song will make it onto the video game.) The second single will be “The Last Fight” the connection between singer and band in this track is quite powerful and filled with raw, rockin’ energy. But I’d have to say my favorite song on the album is not one of the two singles mentioned. I’m pegging “Let It Roll” to be a fan favorite right off the bat, especially since it is the opening track. It has a punk rock feel that we’re lacking in today’s music. The iTunes digital album of Libertad will contain two bonus tracks and there is a Japanese version which will contain yet another bonus track. Both formats of the record will contain a hidden track titled “Don't Drop That Dime.” I think Slash says it best on RCA Records website, "You know all the possibilities are there," says Slash. "And we don't want to miss them this time." I have to agree with Slash; we don’t want to miss them either!By: Christy Mannering (bringmeupmusic.com)