Though the bluegrass hills of Virginia have long been known for producing rootsy, homespun acoustic music played on mandolins and fiddles, the area has lately been birthing a much harder downhome sound. One example of this trend is the latest release from Richmond quintet Alabama Thunderpussy, an 11-song CD entitled “Open Fire,” which came out on March 6th. Rampaging across today’s brutal battleground of bands like broadsword-wielding barbarians, Alabama Thunderpussy plays a brand of hard rock that’s definitely a breed different from much of the overamped product pumped out by players from San Diego to Scandinavia. Each piece on “Open Fire” is an actual song with an identifiable melody, what a welcome innovation. But nevertheless there’s nothing lightweight about ATP’s delivery, as the disk is loaded with martial themes, marching beats, and metal-edged execution. Besides the title tune, tracks such as “The Cleansing,” “None Shall Return,” and “Whiskey War” speak of conflict, peril, and rebellion, and guitarists Ryan Lake and Erik Larson furnish the high-charged chords and cutting leads to give credence to those concepts. Bassist Mikey B and drummer Bryan Cox provide a rhythm section that complements each cut without threatening to capsize it from overkill.
While it’s true that singer Kyle Thomas has a lot of gravel in his voice, something like Chris Cornell, he’s also like Cornell in that he really sings, as opposed to simply growling, roaring, or screaming, like so many other frontmen these days. Oh, Kyle can do so when he chooses, and he’s not shy to bust loose with the occasional war-cry, but thankfully, he chooses to refrain from being a one-note rasper. Kyle’s vocal power is a prime match for the musical framework constructed by his bandmates, resulting in a chunky, full-bodied sound that will be greatly appreciated by anyone who prefers heavy metal to death metal. Alabama Thunderpussy carries the torch of Southern shack-shakin’ spirit on “Open Fire,” a cleanly-produced new CD that does much to keep today’s hard rock flame alive and burning.
