Hellbound Glory
“Scumbag Country”
Gearhead Records

Hellbound Glory gets props right off the bat for one of the greatest band names in years. Couple that with an amazing record of country-fried hellbilly rock ‘n’ roll, and you have one of the best package deals of 2008.

“Scumbag Country” is a balls-to-the-wall road ripper with tunes that just chug and chug, and lyrics that are as crack up funny as they are catchy as all hell. The record kicks off with the band’s phenomenal eponymous track “Hellbound Glory,” which secures the band in the annals of kickass rock bands. The song rises like a prayer, ramping up to a twangy rompfest of goodness, featuring some amazing fingerpicking and a chorus that just won’t quit. “Here now I’m riding on a hellbound train/Hellbound Glory, yeah that’s his name,” singer Leroy Virgil cries out throughout the song.

“Chico’s Train” follows suit as a traditional country ditty, bashed in the head with a good helping of honky tonk and rockabilly fun. But the band’s call-to-arms is “The Ballad of Scumbag Country,” a laugh out loud tribute to hard living, coke snorting, rebel rousing scumbags. A true tounge in cheek (I think) anthem to white trash living.

Hellbound Glory are just getting started, but judging by “Scumbag Country” this trio of punkabilly rockers already have the world by the balls. It’s just a matter of time before they take it over and spit it back out like used up chewing tabaco.

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks

B-Movie Rats
“Radio Suicide”
Rankoutsider Records

I have this B-Movie Rats t-shirt that I’ve worn the hell out of for years. I don’t know where it is now, probably lost it in my cross-country move. I got their newest CD in the mail and was surprised. I haven’t heard anything from them in years and thought they were long broken up. Apparently this album was recorded back in 2002 and the band did break-up. They’re slated to play at this year’s South by Southwest but since the members live on different coasts, I don’t know if they’re back full time.

Naturally, I went to grab some of their old records and was surprised that I had none! Not even the 7″ where they cover the Raunch Hands’ “Your Fat Friend” or their split LP with the Hellbenders (turns out I do have one Hellbenders LP though). Strange…
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