Native Tongue is the fourth studio album by hair metal band Poison.

The record was released on August 14, 1993.

Musical style

Richie Kotzen's influence upon the sound of Native Tongue is unmistakable. In songs such "The Scream", the band's traditional sustaining power chords were jetisoned in favour of complex, funky palm-muted metal riffs.

Production and marketing

The album was the first and only Poison release to feature guitar virtuoso Kotzen. Kotzen was hired as the band's guitarist following the firing of C.C. DeVille. Admitted as a fully-fledged member of the band rather than a "hired gun", Kotzen was given considerable creative freedom. Indeed, Kotzen's writing and performing contributions dominated the album, which reflected a level of musical complexity and sophistication which was absent from the band's previous releases.

Kotzen would later be expelled from the band after it was discovered that he had been romantically involved with the fiance of drummer Rikki Rockett. Recollections of the album, while no doubt soured by these events, nonetheless appear to faithfully reflect the basic clash between Kotzen's style and that of the band's founding members. Kotzen would later claim that "being in Poison helped me forget I was a musician" [1]; while Rockett would lament the loss the band's original "attitude" [2].

The album was recorded and mixed at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California, and Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California with producer Richie Zito. It was dedicated to Van Halen tour manager Scotty Ross and former Poison guitarist DeVille.

Songs

Lyrically, the band revealed a growing sophistication. The albums themes include battles against injustice ("Scream", "Stand"), heartbreak ("Until You Suffer Some", "7 Days Over You", "Theatre of the Soul"), and inner demons ("Stay Alive").

Track listing

1. Native Tongue

2. The Scream

3. Stand

4. Stay Alive

5. Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)

6. Body Talk

7. Bring It Home

8. 7 Days Over You

9. Richie's Acoustic Thang

10. Ain't That The Truth

11. Theatre Of The Soul

12. Strike Up The Band

13. Ride Child Ride

14. Blind Faith

15. Bastard Son Of A Thousand Blues

References

• Metal-rules.com, Heart of Steel; Interview with Richie Kotzen by McDonald K. Retrieved January 5, 2005.

• KAOS 2000 Magazine, Interview with Rikki Rockett by Wilson DL Retrieved January 6, 2005.