Showing posts with label Southern Rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Rock. Show all posts

Wednesday 13 July 2022

Exhorder "Mourn The Southern Skies" (2019)

 
If anyone had a claim on Pantera's era defining sound, these neighboring Louisiana's had the framework for a new metallic approach locked in years before Cowboys From Hell. Having disbanded in 94, I was shocked to hear them in rotation on Spotify with new material decades later. More so was the similarity to the "Phil Anselmo" breed of groovy Southern Metal. With a foggy memory I returned to Exhorder's debut, Slaughter In The Vatican. A brief reflective listen had me in awe. Kyle Thomas's cunning vernacular a blueprint for Anselmo to emulate. It's been quite the historical reminder and undoubtedly I'm gonna have to dive into those old records again.

Mourn The Southern Skies is a ripe affair. Reviving classic groove oriented, fist pumping power and might, the southern swagger scales atop fiery momentous. Kyle rides the waves of crushing guitars and battering drums with attitude as they burn through iterations on the arsenal of techniques accustom to this sound. Its secret weapon is quality. With little in the way of innovation, the band churn through sludgy stomping rhythmic grooves. Baked by southern humidity, it oozes style and persona. Guitar solos dazzle but unsurprisingly, can't charm like a Dimebag. Reasonable in theatrics, a couple leads take a more dynamic roll in musical direction, a niche touch.
 
A competent production aesthetic serves its purpose with a touch of rawness, possibly brought on by budget constraints. Exhorder have never been a big name in Metal. Its kind of remarkable to hear they have been sitting on such talent and inspiration. However this return has influences in reverse as the last twenty plus years of Groove Metal's legacy can be heard throughout. A great record but it can't claim originality this time out. Final thoughts? Listening to this record feels like stepping into an alternate reality given the back story. Looks like I'm adding nineties Metal to the playlist next!

Rating: 7/10

Sunday 3 December 2017

Danzig "Danzig" (1988)


I'd never had much luck getting into the Misfits and if it wasn't for Rick Rubin's involvement producing this record Id probably of passed up diving into the solo material of an artist from a band I'm yet to vibe with. Named after front man Glenn Danzig, this four piece outfit revolve around their singer, songwriter who disbanded the Misfits six years earlier. His intent was to take his musically seriously, something he couldn't do with his former band mates and so he formed "Samhain", a band with a very similar image, using the same iconic font, following themes of horror and the occult in its imagery. The success of that band landed him a record deal with Rick Rubin's newly formed American Records and this is the resulting debut for both band and label, considered by many as a classic.

Danzig's voice and personality are the focal point of this record, its charm, atmosphere and attitude all swell from a creative force not heard like this before. Once an angry shout soaring over distortion guitars, Glenn tones down the format for a Hard Rock, grungy Blues Rock beast that has him singing with soul and passion over lightly overdriven guitars that kick blocks of chomping Heavy Metal groove between the mood of bluesy classic six string, plucked and strum chords arrangements.

 The blend of styles is warm and inviting, making for songs with a bit of bite and strength between its hard Blues Rock tone. Danzig's singing brings the record to life with his lower vocal range illuminating the feeling in his poetry. The riffs, words and arrangements all add up here on a lively record that's broken up neatly with Heavy Metal guitar solos tinged in a Southern Rock tone. The production is crisp for the era, the drums have an especially nice padded tone about them and it all culminates in a solid record with no weak points, an obviously classic but a style I am still becoming accustom to.

Favorite Tracks: Am I Demon, Mother
Rating: 8/10