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This CD came across a little bit of a surprise. I gotta admit, whenever I hear “southern” or “southern fried”, it’s not always a compliment, let alone something that should be used with metal. The same goes here in the fact that I don’t think this CD is metal, but it is a blend of southern rock/hard rock. Normally I don’t get in to labels – whatever someone wants to call something is their wish. Regarding a CD like this, I think there is a difference between hard rock and metal.

This CD is an interesting blend of catchy riffs – from gritty to grungy, they are catchy and soaked within the southern way of things. Producer Ian Whalen did an excellent job of producing the CD while keeping true to the band’s originality. Guitarist Ryan Lake is a riffing monster, and can lay down a combination of Sabbath-esqe riffs and solos with that southern feel normally associated with artists of much lesser distortion (say, Allman?). It does seem to work throughout most of the CD, but at times the CD tends to become lost within the genre. With Kyle Thomas taking over the vocal duties, the band hasn’t quite solidified. Now that’s not taking away anything from Kyle, but time will allow the band to gel around his vocal style.

In listening to this CD, I have to admit that I’m just not a huge fan of this genre. Now don’t fire up the flaming keyboards, it’s just a personal preference. Words of a Dying Man and Greed are two top notch stand outs on the CD, and the intro song to the CD gets your foot going, but the rest of it kept me flipping to see what was next. It just didn’t hold my interest.

Grab a copy and decide for yourself.

Track Listing:

1 The Cleansing
2 Void of Harmony
3 Words of the Dying Man
4 The Beggar
5 None Shall Return
6 Whiskey War
7 A Dreamer's Fortune
8 Valor
9 Open Fire
10 Brave the Rain
11 Greed