Category:
Roots / Metal

Try if you like:
Hank Williams, Tom Phillips, Wayne Hancock

•   Long Hauls And Close Calls

Best memory I have of Hank Williams III was when he opened up for Reverend Horton Heat. Most people were excited to hear Hank's great country songs. They didn't get that, instead they were presented with Assjack, his metal outing. My, there were a lot of angry people. Most had no idea that Hank had this in him. I enjoyed the performance. But I also respect his country side as well and that's what we get on Damn Right, Rebel Proud. 

The album starts off dissing the "Grand Olde Opry" talking about all the people they took on even though they didn't really support them: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams. I love the upbeat track "Six Pack Of Beer" which gets moving along at a breakneck pace:

"Even though I'm broke, I've got a Six Pack of beer"

Country music is stereotypically depressing but no song could be as depressing as "Candidate For Suicide". I really liked the stripped down track "3 Shades of Black", it's one of the songs where Hank's lyrics really stand out.

Hank doesn't bring anything terribly new to the table but what he does bring, he does well. He's good at this more traditional side of things. I am thankful that he doesn't mix his metal and his country though. Closest would be the track "Long Hauls and Close Calls" which sounds more like a possessed country track. "PFF" almost does it but stays pretty much in the country territory. Fun, upbeat and rowdy.

Overall, Damn Right, Rebel Proud is a great effort. Country purists be warned that there is some very colorful language especially on that "PFF" track.