mxdwn.com favorite (we chose him as the Best of SXSW 2006) Hank Willliams III has revealed that he has not one, not two, not three, but four albums scheduled to be released on September 6th. This news comes to us given that Hank III is finally free of his label contract with Curb Records, that he so famously fought with in and out court for years. III’s debt to the label was completed as of this past January 1st.

The four albums coming out are Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown (a double-album set), Attention Deficient Domination and 3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin’. Ghost to a Town/Guttertown are the trademark outlaw country sound that fans know and love. The latter of the two Guttertown reportedly features a heavy Cajun influence to its songs. Attention Deficient Domination on the other hand is the Assjack brand of Hank III heavy metal doom rock, with III playing every instrument. 3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin’ is also a metal album, but with a twist. The metal on this album is woven around actual cattle auctioneering. Call it “cattle core,” if you will.

On this outing for Ghost to a Ghost, all of the music was recorded at The Haunted Ranch, Hank III’s home studio. The players this go-round were Andy Gibson (steel guitar and banjo), David McElfresh (fiddle and mandolin), Zach Shedd (standup bass), Daniel Mason (banjo), Johnny Hiland (guitar), Billy Contreras (fiddle) and Rory Hoffman on accordion. None other than Tom Waits makes a guest contribution on “Fadin’ Moon.” These albums will come out on Hank III’s own imprint Hank 3 records with distribution through Megaforce Records.

Album covers below:

Hank III photo by Raymond Flotat