Confederate Metal

Here’s a relaxingly short blog entry for a change.  Spanning a continuum from country & western (C&W), then southern rock, eventually we reach something I’d call “Confederate metal” – it’s definitely southern in style but too heavy to be called rock.

 First off, here are the “southern rock” bands:  Lynyrd Skynyrd (of course), Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker, .38 Special, Blackfoot, Allman Brothers.  None of these quite reach the point of being metal, though metal fans often enjoy these bands.  These bands below are considerably heavier.

 DOWN – a side project with Phil Anselmo of Pantera and Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity.  Definitely metal, without a doubt, but also having a strong Southern tinge to them.

 Dixie Witch – a power trio from Austin, Texas.  They covered Skynyrd’s “On The Hunt” pretty well on a compilation album.  They also tour with the Suplecs.

 Raging Slab – actually from New York City (!!) but they definitely qualify.  When the first album came out back in 1990, they were hailed as “a cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Metallica”.  They have a female slide guitarist, Elise Steinman.  The first album, Raging Slab, is the best; subsequent albums tend to vary in quality.  The most recent is Pronounced Eat Shit, clearly a tribute to Skynyrd and their first album.

 Suplecs – from New Orleans.  One of the heavier ones, also qualifying as stoner rock.  They’re big Saints fans.  Check out “Cities of the Dead”, one of their better songs.  They also covered the Beatles’ “She’s So Heavy” (from Abbey Road) even better than Type O Negative.

 Pride & Glory -  Zakk Wylde’s one album side project before he started Black Label Society (which could also qualify under this category).  Given that he’s from New Jersey, I suppose he’s a Yankneck (redneck from north of the Mason-Dixon Line).  I’m the opposite – here in Virginia (CSA country) bleeding Union dark blue. 

 I say “Confederate”, but none of these bands actively advocate abolishing the 13^th Amendment, seceding from the Union, or racism in general.  “Southern metal” could be another word, but it’s not as cool or interesting as “Confederate”.