Molly Hatchet
“Justice”
(SPV)

Hlubeck is back! And he’s brought his guns taking Hatchet back to their classic sound on this powerful and highly emotional opus sadly dedicated to the (real life) brutal murder of a toddler and well as the passing of both his and guitarist Bobby Ingram’s wives. It’s all highly charged stuff and that might explain why “Justice” is somewhat less Southern in its groove and more straight up US biker rock, no better exemplified than on ‘American Pride’. Phil McCormack’s voice too has matured like bourbon to sounding uncannily like original MH grizzly Danny Joe Brown and that ain’t no bad thang, cos like I said there’s a serious tone to this album (right down to the cool Frazetta like artwork done by Paul Gregory) that shows that both as individuals and as a nation, they are still hurting whether it’s from 9/11 or personal loss. As such the central theme to most of the songs is on good ol’ fashioned (American) justice, be it by the gun, noose or a CIA drone and that’s the premise for the title track and other songs like ‘Vengeance’ as well as the inlay introduction that pretty much states that if the system has failed you, then you gotta take God’s law into your hands and deal it out. I’m sure many people out there might find this good wholesome American stance a tad cheesy or blind, but that’s just how a lotta folks think - and MH have spoken out for them on this album!

-Shan Siva

Molly Hatchet
“Silent Reign Of Heroes”
Limited Double Vinyl Gatefold Edition (SPV)

Named after a homicidal prossie called Hatchet Molly, who used to behead her clients (now that’s no way to treat a paying customer!), Florida’s MH where thankfully no less dangerous with their own smokin’ brand of southern boogie! Formed in the late 70s when this genre was most popular as a result of earlier bands like the legendary Lynrd Skynrd or The Outlaws, MH also had a classic 3 pronged guitar attack that edged them more into the hard rock territory that by now was growing into heavy metal. Their legendary 3rd album ‘Beatin’ The Odds’ came out in the pivotal year of 1981 and it was no coincidence that it was heavier and faster (and complete with Frazetta sword n sorcery artwork also doing the rounds at the time) than any other southern boogie band (the mighty Blackfoot being the sole exception!) and that earned them a whole passle o’ rock fans (myself being one of them) and continued up until “No Guts...No Glory”. Thereafter, the slide began with band members leaving or dying, and a commercial shift into ballards and soft rock that alienated their rock fans and neither connected them back to the southern groove. With last remaining original member (and co founder) Dave Hlubeck passing the handle (and legal ownership) to Bobby Ingram, the band effectively became a franchised act relegated to play the wilderness of state fairs and ‘mom & dad’ events for the next 10 years. Then in 1996 SPV signed them up which was kinda wierd given the difference in styles (and credibility by that time) but amazingly it brought them back to life with “Devil’s Canyon”! And so to commemorate the signing (and arguably their saving) SPV have decided to re-release - in limited edition double gatefold vinyl - their 1998 release “Silent Reign Of Heroes”. Being a vinyl release I wonder how many people will actually have the ability to play it but that aside its 12 tracks (on 2 records) highlight the full span of MH’s styles ranging from boogie (complete with cowboy whistles) of ‘Miss Saturday Night’ to drippy ballards like ‘Just Remember’. Bonus tracks include the classic ‘Whiskey Man’ where I haveta commend Phil McCormack for a fine vocal cross between original gator country boy Danny Joe Brown (RIP) and rockin’ Jimmy Farrar (who sadly lost weight). But for me, it’s the southern rock of ‘Blue Thunder’ and the epic ‘Saddle Tramp’ with cowpoke vocals, slide geetar and thumping rock that bring it all home in what made Molly Hatchet that mean mutha of a rockin’ machine.

-Shan Siva