Imagine creating Honky Tonk Metal by infusing Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, now toss in Motorhead and Down, splice in some sleazy southern heavy rock elements, and now you have Scattered Hamlet. If you do not know them yet, let us introduce Adam Joad – Vocals, Harmonica, & Guitar, Jake Delling Le Bas – Drums, Richard Erwin – Bass & Vocals, and Adam Newell – Lead Guitar and Vocals. Get ready and save the date for “Swamp Rebel Machine” out November 4th via Black Moon Productions, but first I am going to give you a taste of what you can hear.
I put on my cans, hit play and was not fully prepared for what blasted out of the speakers and blew me out of my chair. I have heard Scattered Hamlet before & have seen them live, so I know that they are a shot gun blast of energy, and hardness. But the new album “Swamp Rebel Machine” came face to face with all my ideas of what a band should be and crushed them. They truly redefined any expectations I had from them and rose to a level beyond the music earthly plain.
“Stonewall Jackson” made me laugh, took me to the moment then got brutal up in my ear canals. I love the fact that the lyrics are relatable to those of us who have a little bit of white trash/hillbilly/redneck in us. Not all of us will admit that, but I am proud to say that I wanted to get me the General Lee and go hellraisin’ with both Bo and Luke Duke when listening to this song – maybe even make room for Daisy in the back. If any of this sounds like feelings you have had then you need to take a listen to this song.
“White Trash”… as you might imagine, the lyrics of this song paints a vivid picture. You see it all the time in other music, but “this is where I came from, this is who I am” and Scattered Hamlet is proud to be who they are and incorporate who and what they know into songs. The guitar in this song is off the hook… better than a blond on a first date good.
“Swamp Rebel Machine” goes from old rebel country into a soft meta/hard country rock tale before it’s over. Being the title track is appropriate because it does encapsulate the overall sound of the band. As all the songs on this album, it is a hit – meaning there’s no need to fast forward past it on your mp3 player. But don’t take my word for it, pre-order it now, get your copy and take a listen… and you are welcome, because I know that you will thank me for telling about these songs, this band, and this album.
