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TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION
"Peacemaker" (Carved Records; 2012)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Texas Hippie Coalition brings it up a notch with "Peacemaker," an album that not only delivers more listenability than their previous record, but that also demonstrates the band's continuing growth of a sound of their own.
My previous review of the band's "Rollin'," was heavy on the Black Label Society comparisons. I don't hear much of that, if any, on "Peacemaker." Instead, the band ups the Southern rock sound here, without sacrificing any of the heavy, and the result is an album that plows through your ears like a bull through rice paper.
As my friend Jeff Rogers is fond of saying, "Peacemaker" is great driving music. Crank this puppy up and just try to stay below the speed limit. You'll be banging your head so hard, you'll be leaving brain matter on the dash and that fifth of Jack Daniels on the passenger seat isn't going to endear you to any law enforcement officials ... unless maybe you offer them a shot, too.
If there's a downside here, it's that some of the lyrics can get a bit silly at times. The good news is it doesn't happen often enough to sabotage the good stuff.
Irresistibly heavy, with much more variety and clarity of production than on "Rollin," "Peacemaker" is kick ass Southern metal at its best with an almost instantaneous replay quotient.
For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/texashippiecoalition.
"Rollin'" (Carved Records; 2010)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Describing the music of Texas Hippie Coalition is easy: It often sounds like Southern-fried Black Label Society. It's heavy as hell with a vocalist as gruff as he can be without ever slipping into death metal cookie monster growls. It's designed to rock your speakers off the wall and it will probably do so.
Yeah, sometimes it gets a little same-y and, yeah, the production is even a little sludgy at times (although it kinda works for a record like this) but, if you're looking for the recorded equivalent of the wrecking ball, this just might be it.
For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/texashippiecoalition.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2012 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
