BLACK BUTTERFLY

Atlantic Records

Buckcherry staged a monstrous comeback with 2006’s “15.”

Led by frontman Josh Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson, Buckcherry clawed its way back to the top, and once again, Buckcherry brings a hard-living, take-no-prisoners style to their equally strong follow-up, “Black Butterfly.”

Shuffling between raw barroom rock and a few lighter touches, Buckcherry’s sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll spirit goes just far enough without becoming a caricature — and the rest of the band (guitarist Stevie D, bassist Xavier Muriel and drummer Jimmy Ashhurst) are as tight a unit as you’ll find.

“Rescue Me” bursts the bubble on the pitfalls of the rock lifestyle, “Tired of You” is for those who need to kick a weak girlfriend to the curb and “Talk to Me” offers the battle-cry lyric, “Love don’t mean a thing.”

“A Child Called ‘It’” speaks to parental neglect and just plain swings behind a tight bass groove, they offer a romantic acoustic jam with “All of Me,” and pull no punches when it comes to controlling your own destiny on the smokin’ “Imminent Bail Out.”

“Don’t Go Away” and “Dreams” showcase some hard balladry, the latter offering lush reverb and a soaring radio-friendly chorus, and “Rose” celebrates that person that sticks by you. There’s no denying it, Buckcherry is what in-your-face rock ’n’ roll is all about.

— John Kosik,

The Associated Press