The Winery Dogs, III, album cover

The Winery Dogs, III

By Mike O’Cull

Actual hard rock supergroup The Winery Dogs blast off and keep going on their first studio album in seven years III.

The record drops February 3rd, 2023 via Three Dog Music/Burnside Distribution/The Orchard and is as fierce a power trio rock and roll set as you’ve ever heard. The almighty lineup of bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth, Talas), guitarist/vocalist Ritchie Kotzen (Poison, Mr. Big), and drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) all possess top-level chops, creativity, and the power to knock down walls. They came together as a band with a self-titled debut effort in 2013, which was followed by a Billboard-charting sophomore album Hot Streak in 2015.

The Winery Dogs are back in action and ready to blow minds all over again. The band installed themselves into Kotzen’s home studio and began creating these new songs as a unit. The tracks emerged from prolonged periods of face-to-face musical collaboration and display the kind of cohesion that only comes from such an old-school approach. The Winery Dogs produced the record themselves and it was mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston. Sonically, III is an enthralling blend of hard rock glory, hit-single hooks, and the kind of soulful songwriting that puts TWD light years beyond a typical bash-it-out trio.

III kicks itself off with the beyond-ferocious rocker “Xanadu.” It’s a blazing track that features all three players at full clip, Kotzen’s big vocal skills, and lyrics that are both zen-seeking and tough. Sheehan’s “lead bass” style pairs exceptionally well with Kotzen’s volcanic guitar work and, when they hit the gas, few can keep pace. The real treat, however, is how easily they shift from ripping technicality to tightly-grooving vocal sections packed with stadium-shaking goodness. This is real, relatable rock music for the people that just happens to be put down by three of the best musicians out there.

“Mad World” is another monster cut that mixes rock energy with pop/soul melodies and intelligent social commentary. Kotzen is enough of a lead singer that he could put the guitar away any time he wanted to and still be a star. His multi-genre instincts on the mic take the instrumental superiority of the group into a higher level of crossover accessibility than a chops-only band could ever reach. Lots of players can blaze away; few can get you to sing along while they do it. Kotzen does this consistently and it’s a thing of beauty every time.

“Mad World”

 
The anthemic jam “Breakthrough” easily moves from soft verses to power chord choruses with immense hooks. Portnoy and Sheehan are a rhythm section for the ages and give commanding performances even on a mostly straightforward radio tune like this. Of course, Kotzen dominates the guitar zone but never at the expense of the song. The wisdom needed to walk that line is his true gift.

Sheehan opens the deep cut “Pharaoh” with some sweet-and-slippery bass lines before the tune hits its rock pocket. The vibe of this one is blues-based classic rock executed with modern thunder. All three players lock together and support each other in every direction they choose to go. It’s one of the most interesting songs on III and will definitely make your headphones happy.

Other quality cuts on III include the mellower “Lorelei” and the energetic closer “The Red Wine.” The Winery Dogs are an elite combo loaded with talent and taste that will leave rock fans of all persuasions floored and entertained. They’re as good as it gets and you won’t be able to stop listening.

The Winery Dogs website