Van Halen’s forthcoming album, A Different Kind of Truth, is notable for being the band’s first with original frontman David Lee Roth since 1984. The band released the video for leadoff single “Tattoo” today, and it’s our first real taste of the reformed band, boasting a no-frills aesthetic in crisp black and white.
And on first impression, it’s just fine: Van Halen’s glory days may be behind them, but the newly-rejuvenated boys seem to be having a blast jamming together again, and DLR, despite his AARP age, remains a lovable scamp on stage, even when just playing to the camera. Song-wise, “Tattoo” is as back-to-basics as it gets; the riff is fairly workaday, merely a framework on which to hang Eddie VH’s guitar fireworks and Roth’s yelping lyrics about dragon magic and Elvis on his elbow, but it remains pleasant to see some old-school rawk spice up the Tuesday doldrums. Mike Anthony’s backing vocals are missed, but not too sorely; these guys just might make it yet. Watch the video for “Tattoo” right here, and mark your calendars for A Different Kind of Truth, due in February.