The Dark Side of the South
In need of a fresh take on a well-established genre? Do you harbor a secret love of outlaw country music? Well look no further than the rasp and crossover grit that is Assjack. Assjack is one of two bands fronted by Hank Williams III, grandson of the legendary Hank Williams. A typical Hank III show consists of a large set from Hank with his country outfit The Damn Band, a brief interlude of hellbilly stomp and then a blistering finale from Assjack. Such contrast is hard to ponder coming from a third generation country veteran, but the extreme variance between the two is a jaw-dropping diversified experience. There are no official Assjack releases as of yet, however on tour Hank sells his own handmade copies of Assjack’s Bootleg #3.The eleven song burn starts off menacingly with the greaser-punk thrash of “Tennessee Driver” which find Hank trading hardcore shouts and dry-lung vocals against thunderous double bass drum rolls. “Choking Gesture” demonstrates Hank’s deft use of the razor filled twang in his voice sang expertly over harsh palm-muted distortion. III even shouts off the line “Living in a gravel pit” in the song “Gravel Pit” with the ferocity his Superjoint Ritual bandmate Phil Anselmo did in his heyday with Pantera.
The best combination of these talents is shown in the barnburner “No Regrets,” highlighting the strongest of Hank’s country voice, metal growl and intense fret work. Lyrically Assjack is an unadulterated journey through the drugs, booze and hard living of the south and Hank III’s voice exudes believability years beyond comprehension. Anyone seeking a unique approach to quality heavy music should start here.
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