Tag Archives: Southern Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Jakethehawk – Hinterlands

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At first, Jakethehawk’s second album closely adheres to the relentless wave of Stoner Doom. But while Hinterlands (Ripple Music) is rife with the heavy riffs and spaced-out psychedelia typical in the genre, it reveals a deep pool of influences that include Prog Rock, Shoegaze, Alternative, Folk, and a bit of Southern Rock among other tastes. The results are similar to the eclectic blend seen on Fostermother’s 2020 debut, though with a dramatic scope more in line with the likes of Howling Giant or Sergeant Thunderhoof.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Blacktop Mojo – Under The Sun

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I adore being entrusted with juicy secrets, ask my Skullpals. That does not necessarily mean I am successful at keeping the aforementioned secrets, also ask my Skullpals. Being the Skullgurl, I am privy to hearing new music before the general public. Every once and while I am sent a new album and I find myself checking to see if it was sent to me by the C.I.A. or the F.B.I. because the music is so mind-blowing, it must be highly guarded national secret. Such is the case with the new album by Blacktop Mojo, Under The Sun (Self-Released) The tertiary album by the Southern Rock dynamo’s is a secret that should not be kept, cannot be kept, from the music-loving populous. Full disclosure, I jumped on the Blacktop Mojo magic carpet ride in 2014 when I was sent their debut album, and have been continuously knocked on my keister by the magnitude of talent these five Southern gents possess.Continue reading →


Sacri Monti – Waiting Room For The Magic Hour

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Another outfit from the lysergic dreamlands of San Diego, Sacri Monti left a sizeable impression with their self-titled 2015 debut album (Tee Pee Records) which was a psychedelic trip through heavy vibes. The quintet’s sophomore effort, Waiting Room For The Magic Hour (Tee Pee Records), is another faithful journey through drifting sands and heady atmospheres but shows a pleasing maturity and willingness to experiment.Continue reading →


Texas Hippie Coalition – High In The Saddle

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When you get an album with the band name Texas Hippie Coalition, you have a set of expectations about what it’s going to sound like. A mental image of the music pops into your brain. Texas Hippie Coalition did not disappoint with High In The Saddle (Entertainment One). True to form, it’s Texas-style southern rock with a scruffy “edge” to the lyrics and followable 4/4 beats. If you like listening to Down, Black Label Society, or Southern Train Gypsy, Texas Hippie Coalition is almost but not quite totally unlike that. High In The Saddle straddles the line of rock and roll and country and does so admirably. Continue reading →


Bars Of Gold – Shelters

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Album artwork can really help set the tone for an album. Providing a visual companion and interpretation to the audio within, it gives the listener an idea of what to expect when they delve into the main work of art. At first glance Bars Of Gold’s new album Shelters (Equal Vision) would set an expectation to the listener that this record would be a soothing record consisting of seaside recordings and other ambience.Continue reading →


John Fairhurst – The Divided Kingdom

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Troublesome and tumultuous times politically tends to bring out the best in musicians, with everyone from the world of Metal, Punk, Country, Folk, and Blues to name but a few raising their voices in protest. Wigan’s own John Fairhurst is strongly rooted in the latter camp, with his new album The Divided Kingdom (Unmanageable Records) containing impassioned rallying cries against greed and corruption, Brexit and the lying politicians involved with it, alongside riffs and hooks aplenty.Continue reading →


King Creature – To The Bone EP

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Full disclosure here, when I saw the words “acoustic EP”, my toes curled up so far they nestled in my intestines and set off a chain reaction of cringing and shuddering. While King Creature may have established as a sturdy, powerful, energetic Blues Rocking act of growing repute, the acoustic EP is a difficult beast to digest (even without toes clogging up the tracts), with very few examples coming close to Alice In Chains Sap / Jar of Flies (Columbia) levels, and many more being indistinguishable filler littering the bargain bin of many a record store.Continue reading →


Brand New Sin Announces Hometown Reunion Show For 2019

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In a move some thought might never happen, Brand New Sin is reuniting for a career-spanning concert in their hometown of Syracuse, NY. All original members of BNS will participate, which will be the first time they will have appeared together in over a decade. The southern rock and metal inspired band (think Black Label Society meets COC with a piano) had some minor hits, recorded WWE entrance themes and put out five records from 2002 – 2011 for labels like Now Or Never, Century Media, and Goomba Music. This band was incredible for their time, and here’s hoping they do a tour or at least several more dates eventually. Continue reading →


All Get Out – No Bouquet

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All Get Out has been around for some time now; their 2011 release The Season (Favorite Gentlemen) put them on the map.  They are a duo from South Carolina that has really showcased their musicianship with their third release No Bouquet (Rude Records/Easy Vision) where they have created an infectious album that thrives on the dynamic of keeping things simple, creating their own Indie Alternative sound full of soul.Continue reading →


Creedence Clearwater Revival – The Complete Studio Albums (Half-Speed Masters 7 LP Deluxe Box Set)

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1968 was a big year for Rock, seeing the release of The Beatles’ White Album, The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Electric Ladyland and The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet. Not to mention the formation of bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Free and one of America’s premier Rock n’ Roll bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival. To celebrate their 50th anniversary Craft Recordings have compiled The Complete Studio Albums (Half-Speed Masters) 7 LP Deluxe Box Set, containing all seven albums remastered and restored onto 180g vinyl alongside an 80 page book containing archival photos and new liner notes by music journalist Roy Trakin.Continue reading →