Search - Dezperadoz :: Legend & The Truth

Give a diamond-in-the-rough a chance to shine

Ryan Seek | Maricopa, AZ United States | 11/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're horribly opposed to classic country music of the 50s, 60s and 70s, then go ahead and press your "back" button now. If you're still reading, you're about to discover a hidden gem in rock/metal history.



The Legend And The Truth is a concept album about Wyatt Earp and the shootout at the OK Corral near Tucson, Arizona. Although grounded in an old-school metal approach, this album contains a very strong influence of old country music, including a rather heavy cover of the classic song "Rawhide" (rollin, rollin, rollin, keep those doggies rollin...rawhide!). There are also many acoustic and symphonic elements that help this concept album sound like a classic western movie score of the highest caliber.



The album is brilliantly composed and performed. The singing often ranges the green pastures of western lore, reminding me (in rock terms) of Jim Morrison or Glenn Danzig. The guitar riffs could still echo in shoddy saloons from the late 80s where a wild man like Zakk Wylde might have been rockin' the nails loose in the rafters.



This is what I would imagine Rebel Meets Rebel sounding like these days, had Dimebag Daryll Abbott not been gunned down in one of the most tragic (and most old western) events in metal history.



Recommended for: those with open minds and/or appreciation for old country music and westerns, Savatage, Rebel Meets Rebel, Black Label Society, The Doors, Danzig, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams (1, 2, or 3)."