Rating: NNNN
This album knocked me out within 30 seconds of hitting ‘play’ and has continued to relentlessly beat the shit out of me. Not that I’d expect DeCroo to show me any mercy. He’s a tough-as-nails, bearded bastard who recalls Dylan circa his Rolling Thunder Revue days. War Torn Man finds him in his live element, live onstage, encouraging those in attendance to eat out of his hand but slapping them in the face when they get close. DeCroo’s blue-collar work ethic inhabits every tune, and even the homey bass lines from former Spirit of the West member Linda McRae can’t put a spit shine on DeCroo’s rough edges and two-packs-a-day voice. The chemistry between DeCroo and guitarist Jon Wood suggests they may have been separated at birth, and it’s this gritty cohesiveness and Wood’s excellent fretwork that take this album from very good to fantastic.