Alabama Thunder Pussy wasn't the only southern-fried headbanging crew who joined the Man's Ruin roster in the late '90s. The Bay Area label also attracted the likes of
Hammerlock, whose Anthem for Outlaws offers a raucous, in-your-face blend of heavy metal, southern rock, and punk. This excellent, risk-taking CD could be described as
Motorhead meets
Lynyrd Skynyrd and
the Outlaws meets
Black Flag;
Hammerlock gets its intensity and amphetamine-like aggression from metal and punk, but the band's need to boogie and its humorously southern lyrics are deeply indebted to southern rock. On infectious, loud-and-proud tunes like "Who Shot Sam" and "Battle of New Orleans,"
Hammerlock doesn't hesitate to flaunt its hell-raisin', whiskey-drinkin' redneck image. In fact,
Hammerlock's Travis Kenney wears that image like a badge of honor. But there is one major difference between
Hammerlock's lyrics and the lyrics of southern rockers who emerged in the '70s:
Hammerlock does it with a sense of humor and a big dose of irony.
Anthems for Outlaws ends up becoming a caricature of redneck culture, but an affectionate one. Like comedian
Jeff Foxworthy,
Hammerlock is laughing with the good ole' boys instead of laughing at them. This CD is as fun and entertaining as it is obnoxious. ~ Alex Henderson