PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Peacemaker is the third album from Texas Hippie Coalition. Formed in 2008 in Texas (where else with a name like that), they have released two albums – “The pride of Texas” and “Rollin”. The band describe their music as “Red dirt metal” and to quote the press release “Take Outlaw country, toss in a dash of southern -fried classic rock and mix it with some potent Texas power grooves”. Or to put it another way, this is Southern rock with more power and attitude.
There’s a definite Texas feel to some of the lyrics. “8 seconds” for example is about a rodeo bull – 8 seconds presumably being how long the rider is expected to hang on. Unusually it’s told from the perspective of the bull rather than the rider
“Outlaw” and “Hands up” have a law-breaking outlaw theme – something that really persists through the album. “Don’t come lookin” is another song with a similar theme as the lyrics warn the listener that when the police come lookin’ then “you ain’t seen me”.
The music is good and heavy with plenty of power from the guitars, and the vocals are rough enough to suit the lyrics perfectly – a smooth voice wouldn’t work so well, but the vocals here are clear enough that the lyrics are easily heard and understood, but rough enough to have a nice gritty feel and that just makes the songs work exactly how they should.
Until I got this album to review I’d never heard of Texas Hippie Coalition, but I have to say I’m seriously impressed by this album – it really is a great album. Fans of Southern Rock are likely to love this as there’s a definite southern rock influence, but there’s a much heavier feel to this – its almost like a cross between Hellyeah and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
An excellent album that’s definitely worth a listen.
“Peacemaker” is out on 15th October 2012 via Carved records
Rating: 9/10
Track listing:
1. Hands up
2. Damn you to hell
3. 8 seconds
4. Outlaw
5. Turn it up
6. Wicked
7. Don’t come lookin’
8. Sex & drugs & rock and roll
9. Paw paw hill
10. Peacemaker
11. Think of me
