Molly Hatchet: Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge

The title of Molly Hatchet's latest brew of Southern Rock boogie and hard rock is titled Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge, a title chosen in memory of guitarist Bobby Ingram's late wife Stephanie, who passed away prior to the band recording this album. The Rainbow Bridge is depicted as the link between this world and the next, and judging by the kick ass sounds on this release, the Hatchet crew have channeled their grief towards some new found energy, as this new CD is the hardest rocking album they have done in years, bordering on metal at times. No doubt also the return of orginal guitarist Dave Hlubek to the fold certainly helped too, as he and Ingram prove to be a formidable guitar team here. The band has also added former Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Tim Lindsey to round out the line-up, solidifying the band more than it has been in years.

There's 12 crunchy rockers included in this set, and some real strong tunes, like the steamrolling opener "Son of the South", sure to be an instant classic with Hatchet and Southern Rock fans, with it's thick guitar work, wicked leads from Ingram and Hlubek, and the husky vocals of Phil McCormack, who still sounds just like recently deceased original vocalist Danny Joe Brown. Other tracks like "Moonlight Dancing on the Bayou", "Time Keeps Slipping Away", and "Hell Hath No Fury" boogie hard, containing scorching lead and slide guitar solos, crunchy power chords, stomping rhythms from Lindsey and drummer Shawn Beamer, and searing organ from John Galvin. The band does some serious headbanging on the monstrous "Gone in Sixty Seconds", as well as on "No Stranger in the Darkness", a tune with a wicked guitar melody and McCormack's forceful vocals. It's the closing cut though that really hits home, the majestic and epic "Rainbow Bridge", a song written by Ingram for his departed wife. McCormack sings the lyrics of longing, loss, and heartbreak with great passion, while Hlubek and Ingram fire off plenty of extended guitar solos.

Though many casual fans have probably written off Molly Hatchet over the years due to the fact that no original members have been in the band for practically the last decade (Ingram remains from the mid-80's version when he replaced Hlubek, and Galvin joined right around that time as well), they have continued to put out solid albums of quality Southern Rock. Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge is no different, and might be the heaviest album to date for the band. Those who dig the harder sounds of the Southern Rock genre should really like this one-check it out!

Track Listing
1) Son of the South
2) Moonlight Dancing on the Bayou
3) I'm Ready For You
4) Roadhouse Boogie
5) Time Keeps Slipping Away
6) Get in the Game
7) Flames are Burning
8) Hell Has No Fury
9) Gone in Sixty Seconds
10) Behind the Bedroom Door
11) No Stranger to the Darkness
12) Rainbow Bridge

Added: March 24th 2006
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Molly Hatchet Website
Hits: 5829
Language: english

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