REBEL ROAD – Lock & Load (CD)

When it comes to bands, even though we are a small country, Sweden offers a multitude of metal genres and subgenres. One genre that however is sadly under-represented is in your face down and dirty southern rock! There are only a few out there, one being the outstanding Killbilly 5ers, but apart from them, it’s very quiet. Well, hello Rebel Road! I actually knew of guitarist Ulrich Seppenen since his days in the highly underrated band Straightjackets. Here he also handles the vocals, proving he’s an excellent rough edged down and dirty southern style singer. His voice fits perfectly to the equally down and dirty, heavy and powerful southern rock riffing. Rebel Road fit in somewhere in-between today’s Texas Hippie Coalition and classic Blackfoot/Hatchet. It’s not too modern, yet doesn’t sound dated and they’ve still got the classic groove. A killer album, highly recommended!

Janne Stark

Year: 2014

Label: Rambo Music

Country: Sweden

THE KILLBILLY 5'ERS - Welcome To Town – Now Get The Hell Out (CD)

I heard about this country rock band from some friends and even though I’m a big fan of southern rock, the word country doesn’t sit well with me. When I finally checked the band out, I was totally blown away! Man, this was no washed up Waylon Jennings copies, these boys rock!! I recently discovered the band Texas Hippie Coalition, and I immediately compared The Killbilly 5’Ers to THC. However, where I found the latter fell a bit short on the consistency of the songs, KB5 don’t. The album kicks off with the rocking stomper Burn Down The Trailer Park and continues with the up-tempo rocker Up Shit Creek. The band’s strengths are many, from the killer dual lead work from benders Wincent Persson (ex-Violent Work Of Art) and Ola Af Trampe (Grand Illusion, Code) to the vocal strength of Ola “Alo” Karlsson. The rhythm section featuring bass player Daniel Tegnvallius and drummer B-O Kjellsson keeps the wagon swinging and swaying. The mix is heavy, yet dynamic. The guitars are heavy and detuned, but they also leave some space for acoustic additions such as in steamroller rockers Tupelo. Another bass-crushing rocker is entitled All Fed Up, and the vocals here reminds me a bit of early Volbeat with its stompy rhythm. A cool heavy rocker, indeed! Speaking of cool rockers, another driving “can’t sit still when hearing this”, is I Don’t Know What It Is (But I Want It), which I suspect will go down great live. Humor is another nice ingredient in the band’s songs, not only with titles like A Dick And A Douche, but listen to the stonkin’ No Bull and it’s guitar licks. Awesome! The album ends on another high note – Good Thing I’m Bad. I honestly can’t find a weak song on the album. The band manages to be consistent, yet keep it fresh and new twists and turns on the same heavy, down and dirty country-sih heavy riff rock. If you’re into bands like Texas Hippie Coalition, Hogjaw or Preacher Stone, lend these Swedish southern rockers your ears!
Janne Stark
Country: Sweden
Year: 2012
Label: private