2007-04-29
A good album is what, at least for some, would be one of those little enjoyments in the metaphorical, as well as actual, ride along the bumpy highway. Most would agree that some experiences, if not all, would be less memorable without the proper soundtrack accompanying them. Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster's "II" is such an album, marking the difference between a boredom and fun.
"II", as its title suggests, is MATSOD's second full-length since their formation not so long ago in 2004. They are among a respectable group of bands associated with Underøath, Dallas Taylor (vocals) being Underøath's original vocalist, sharing a common denominator with At The Wake, This Runs Through and most recently Aaron Gillespie's side project The Almost. A lot of water has passed through the All-american River even before their highly recommended self-title debut and a lot of other bands infusing hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore and southern rock (and occasionally Christian beliefs) such as He Is Risen, Norma Jean, The Chariot, West of Wayward and many other have been alongside them to mark the southern/Christian-core scene's rapid blossom. Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster create what can roughly be described as southern metal, meaning badass guitar-rock with tons of groove and energy, a very throaty and smoky leading voice and a great southern twist to it all. This is the kind of music you'd hear at a bar, a moment before the first punch is thrown.
"II" opens so strongly, one kick on each knee – "Memories Of The Grove" and "Dry the River" - bound to get you in the mood and make you bow or at least limp a little while you headbang and shout along "I thought we'd make it to the end/ Brick Walker don't leave me stranded" or "I'll take back everything if you'll stay by my side/ Cause I'm told the river went dry/ Believe me when I say that you'll see greater days/ I didn't want to leave", those two are super catchy yet don't lack even an ounce of heaviness, and the guitars… damn, so goddamn fine!
MADSOD sure don't stop there, and immediately go into faster numbers such as the slightly NWOBHM "Plenty Strong And Plenty Wrong" (with an addition of a sweet guitar solo halfway through) and the full-force "Darkest Of Kin", following those two blows with the more boozed-up southern riffed anthem "Raised By The Tide".
More heavy metal follows in one of the highlights here – "Wylie" – having heaps of energy, and Taylor really putting his voice out, taking references of both Lemmy Kilmister and Brian Johnson. "Death Is An Alcoholic" is another highlight here, with a great main riff and some resemblance to Queens Of The Stone Age. Follower to those two, "Everyone Needs A Hasting", is somewhat a combination of its predecessors' descriptions with a really great groove, and as for grooves and breakdowns, "Don't Ever Cross A Trowel" is probably the excelling student from this class.
Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster are named after the 1930's gangster group Barker-Karpis Gang (much like The Dillinger Escape Plan is named after John Dillinger), Ma Barker and her sons, spreading calamity in the US and the concept of the gang's life, judgment and death is brought here in a rather typical chiristian-core way. Having "II" as a concept album as opposed to any other regular hard-rocking album is an added bonus, and the whole "divine justice" isn't preaching or too abrupt. MATSOD further explain this with a soft ballad "Tales Of The Runaways", probably told from the point of view of Alvin Karpis, being as catchy and moving as a Kansas song, and close the album with "The Day Hell Broke Loose At Sicard Hollow", a soothing acoustic instrumental memorial song leaving us wondering about the legend, the moral and the heritage of Ma Baker and her sons of disaster.
Ofer Vayner
