Southern Rockers Molly Hatchet are one of those rock 'n' roll bands that have seem to been around for ever. Longer than this metalrage.com reporter has been around on this planet even! But not being unfamiliar to the sweet southern sounds of these guys, I was very pleased to find their new album Warriors Of The Rainbow Bridge on promo disc on my doormat not too long ago.

And what can be said? They own the magic, even upto this point. Twelve fine rock songs, some good (Moonlight Dancing On The Bayou), some great (Rainbow Bridge), but overall a more than moderate effort. While the Hatchet have swerved away from their roots in previous releases (encorporating different styles to the disliking of some fans), this new album is a tribute to everything Molly Hatchet has ever offered. But it's steady and concise at the same time, so a good release.

I always wonder if bands that have been around for as long as Molly Hatchet still feel the urge to progress in uncharted territories. If you've been around for longer than the guy who's reviewing the stuff, how do you keep going? We can't all be Lemmy, now can we? But Molly Hatchet is living proof of the opposite, the band doesn't seem to need to display their diversity as much as on some earlier releases, and come out with something that's more Hatchet as they've ever been, the final track Rainbow Bridge as a true triumph of exitement, an epic piece of rock material you have to hear, weather you're buying this album or not.

Nice release for your Southern-Rock collection, one of the finer in this genre lately. Play it back to back with Five Horse Johnson, Jon Spenser Blues Explosion and the new Zakk Wylde, and it'll feel like it's summertime. And you gotta admit it, we need that feeling very badly with the type of weather that's going on the last couple of weeks!

Tracklist:

01. Son Of The South
02. Moonlight Dancing On The Bayou
03. I'm Ready For You
04. Roadhouse Boogie
05. Time Keeps Slipping Away
06. Get In The Game
07. Flames Are Burning
08. Hell Has No Fury
09. Gone In Sixty Seconds
10. Behind The Bedroom Door
11. No Stranger In The Darkness
12. Rainbow Bridge

Line-Up:

Bobby Ingram: Lead And Acoustic Guitars, Bg Vocals
Phil McCormack: Lead Vocals And Harmonica
Dave Hlubek: Lead Guitars And Bg Vocals
John Galvin: Keyboards / Piano And Digital Programming
Rich Del Falvo Piano / Keyboards
Tim Lindsey: Bass Guitar And Bg Vocals
Shawn Beamer: Drums And Percussion