Scattered Hamlet – Review of ‘Swamp Rebel Machine’

scattered-hamlet-tracksIt appears that this hardcore In-Your-Face Southern Californian punk HARD southern-rock sleaze-metal honky-tonk band doesn’t have a clear musical identity; anybody can find something they love from Scattered Hamlet’s sophomore full-length release album Swamp Rebel Machine.  I’m tired after typing all of that, but there’s no easy way to sum up what this four-some of obscure misfits pack into 11-tracks. Scattered Hamlet’s Sophomore Album ‘Swamp Rebel Machine’ Is Simply An Ear Orgasm

Swamp Rebel Machine’ builds on the success their debut album, ‘Skeleton Dixie,’ showing that the time between the two albums was well spent.   Three years have treated these guys well as they’ve packed so much sound into each track, beginning with ‘Battle Hymn,’ an anthem of epic rock proportions, providing a cadence to everything American with a heavy southern-rock beat.

These Honky-Tonkin’ rebels cook with gasoline when combining the sounds of deep growls from the American made Les Paul’s, and heavy bass line resonating through Marshall stacks.  You can tell these guys are American made (mostly) and ready to rock.  Adam Joad’s vocals are crass enough to send the message of what it means to be an American with the force of any Metal vocalist, but the man can still carry a tune…enough to add flare to the Harmonica and Guitar he plays WHILE sharing these stories.  Jake Delling, formerly of Dublin but living in the best State of the Union (California), takes all his natural-born Irish energy out on the drums as he hammers the heads of those drums senselessly, creating tight beats and rhythms that back up the smooth and rhythmic bass lines of Richard Erwin, who definitely brings much of the redneck flare to the group, coming from Kentucky.  The second Adam, Adam Newell, rounds out this quartet of randomness with the lead guitar you hear tearing up every track.   It just seems to work like magic…if gasoline, fire, guns, and booze are magic to you.

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE OF “SWAMP REBEL MACHINE”

scattered-hamlet-swamp-rebel-machine-coverDefinitely an improvement from their debut, not saying anything BAD about the well-received ‘Skeleton Dixie,’ it’s just that this newest collaboration with Scattered Hamlet and producer Jason Donaghy (he produced their debut album too) blows the last one away.  This makes me excited for what’s to come from Scattered Hamlet.

For now, we have an album that’ll easily play edge to edge, over and over again, and still feel new.  I think I’m on spin number 10…today.  BUY NOW!  It’s a definite POWER driving album, or something to listen too while heading out for the night.  This entire album will pump you up and put some octane in your veins.

Reviewed by: Big Jon / BackStage360
BigJon@Backstage360.com

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