Search - Maylene & the Sons of Disaster :: II

A return to good form

J. Step | Ruston, LA | 03/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Usually I find myself having to make excuses and giving the old "I'll let it grow on me" response when it comes to sophomoric efforts. However, with Maylene and the Sons of Disaster's "II", this is not the case. Putting this album in is like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes--"Memories of the Grove" kicks off the journey by taking you down a familiar road paved with gritty southern rock and hardcore melody peppered with Dallas Taylors's coarse vocals.



The band has made a conscious effort to change their chemistry with varied guitar rhythms and solid song structure (for example: "I'll take back everything if you stand by my side"-- the chorus in "Dry the River".) Some riffs come off as sounding very "country", yet gritty and unrefined, which makes for a very good potion. Often times, the mention of something new scares away potential long-time fans and angers fanboys, but Maylene pulls the right punches unlike some groups can. One notable change, "Tale of the Runaways", is a soft/slow ballad that will hopefully warrant the band more critical acclaim and recognition than they have received in the past and may act as a segue to mainstream radio.



After a steady stream of tough as rocks attitude and mud drenched rock the album closes with "The Day Hell Broke Loose At Sicard Hollow"--an instrumental piece that fans of the debut self titled will find very familiar (Hint: "Just Wanted to Make Mother Proud").



Still intact are the fresh and southern fried lyrics that hooked us in the first time around. Dallas's belts with southern swag, "I've covered this country far and wide, though I'll always be a son of the South" in "Raised by the Tide". Also, the lyrics are deeper and seem a bit more personal than the first time around, though you'll soon be reminded of Mother Maylene and her sons lore of which the band bases its moniker



In conclusion, fans of the first album will not be disappointed with the innovative and dirty sound the band capitalizes on. If you're anything like me then you'll be listening to this continually until the next album.



Dallas and Company can do no wrong.



"

AWESOME!!!!!!

PSIM | 02/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"NEVER HEARD OF THEM TILL I SAW THEM IN CONCERT WITH ALL THAT REMAINS. AND THEY BLEW ME AWAY. I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING. NOW THEY ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

AWESOME LIVE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!"