CD. They were called “The American Led Zeppelin” back in 1970. Tall words, indeed, but Cactus — Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert, Jim McCarty and the late Rusty Day (who died in 1982) — came out only months after their Brit counterparts, only to flame out brightly after four albums (Cactus, One Way…Or Another, ‘Ot ‘n’ Sweaty and Restrictions) before 1973 even started. Now, four decades later, the band that made such an impression with their loud blues-edged hard rock madness…the band that influenced the likes of Van Halen, Joe Bonamassa, David Coverdale and Kid Rock…the band that foreshadowed heavy music itself…are back. This time, Carmine and Jim (along with ex-Savoy Brown lead singer Jimmy Kunes, harmonica player Randy Pratt; and bassist Pete Bremy) are providing the lusty macho soul. Kunes’ leather-lunged pipes atop this hot’n’nasty blues-metal machine made some quality head-first rock’n’roll. BLACK DAWN is the band’s newest studio album; a compelling step into the future upon a bridge firmly built in the past.