A damn fine comeback after 28 years. Listen to it on proper speakers, not your phone or computer!
If you know Van Halen, you'll know that if you listen to 1978's debut album and the album 1984 back to back, you'll think 'whaaa?' And that was in the space of 6 years. It's obviously the same band on those two albums - the same feel and attitude - but it sounds all different (Top Jimmy, or Drop Dead Legs, or Girl Gone Bad - never mind Jump or I'll Wait - on Van Halen I?? I don't think so, buddy.) So, naturally, after 28 years, they are gonna sound a little different than expected.
Just take a listen to all of Van Halen's Roth-era albums. No two of 'em sound the same - Women and Children First and its predecessor Van Halen II, or the album that followed it, Fair Warning? Like a different band - but, at the same time, not. They all share a vibe and attitude, and it's back.
'Tattoo' is not a high tempo tune, so may disappoint some who are expected a slamming, blow-the-doors down opening salvo after so long - but it is a real grower that has a low, dirty, groove. It's not riff-driven in the way that a lot of his earlier material is, which I expect signals that on the album Eddie might be giving a lot of space to the groove side of things , to let Wolfgang flex some heavy bass muscle (as he did, in spades, at their Cafe Wha? gig in NY last week).
All in all, a fine song and a great return after so long. Much better than the two songs the band recorded in 1996 . If you are not convinced at first, give it a couple more listens.