Molly Hatchet

For a spell during the '90s, it seemed like the Southern rock audience had dried up considerably. Then, out of the blue, interest in the genre began blossoming once more, as such veterans as Lynyrd Skynyrd started packing 'em in again, and a wide variety of up-and-coming bands proudly wore their Southern rock roots on their sleeves (Nashville Pussy, Kings of Leon, etc.). Sensing this, groups such as Molly Hatchet reappeared on the scene, as evidenced by such new releases as Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge. Always more metallic than Skynyrd (and giving Iron Maiden a run for their money in the 'grisly album cover' department), the 2005 Molly Hatchet model is one burly beast, especially when compared to the bar band sounds from their Flirtin' With Disaster era. With an album title and title track that serve as a tribute to guitarist Bobby Ingram's late wife (according to the press release, "The Rainbow Bridge being the link between this world and the next"), the Molly boys let it rip on such biker-metal anthems as "Moonlight Dancing on the Bayou" (which contains a Dimebag Darrell-esque solo), and the album-opening anthem "Son of the South," as well as the moderately paced "Time Keeps Slipping Away." But perhaps the most impressive thing about this album: There's not a single dang ballad anywhere. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide