Customer Reviews

Hell and High Water

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Throttlerod affirm in their opening track "Marigold", that you can take a basic rock blueprint and turn into a killer rock track. Whitehead's vocals are rugged, but complement Leslie's crushing riffs and blusey runs. Throttlerod are consistant in their sound throughout most of the album. The incessant little licks on "Suckerpunch", "Whistlin' Dixie", and "Across Town" seem a bit annoying, but in the end they become imbeded in your brain. The vocals are more edgy, with a cocksure delievery on the blues heavy, up-tempoed "Tomorrow and a Loaded Gun". The group shows they can lay down a funk groove on "No Damn Fool", a track about kicking a money grubbing girlfrind to the curb. There are some great `chugga-chugga' riffs on "In the Flood" and "Mariana". Throttlerod abandon the distortion for a more country music inspired sound on the ballad "Been Wrong", and continue the style on the heavier "On the Mountain".

Bottom Line:
Throttlerod keeps their musical formual simple; addictive songs, repetive licks and catchy riffs played through a Les Paul guitar, plugged into a Marshall amp. It doesn't get more rock and roll than that

This is without a doubt the most original, truly ROCK music I have heard in a long, long time -- nothing like the lame "rock" music you hear played over and over on your favorite "rock" station. The album opens with a song called "Marigold", which in my opinion is top-notch and definitely worthy of radio play. My other favorites are "On the Mountain" and "Sucker Punch". These songs have groove, edge, and real style. This band definitely broke the mold when they made this album. I wish I was better at describing these songs - all I know is how they make me feel -- like I want to drive fast and raise hell. This is one independent label CD you WON'T regret buying!

Just to get this out of the way, Throttlerod is a solid band. When I say solid--I mean, talented, tight, and serious about their music. They didn't come here to screw around. They came to do it right, on their terms, and their way. This is as good as it gets. Anyone listening to music and enjoying it, but thinking "something's missing, but I can't put into words what that something is..." Listen to this--Throttlerod will make you whole. "You'll know it when you find it." Throttlerod is that "it".
"Sophomore album"--Hell and High Water. Forget the "sophomore jinx" crap. Oddly, these guys did have a job to do--living up to Eastbound and Down was a near impossibility. That album is damned close to perfect. There was a huge potential of let down as I waited the months to get a hold of Hell and High Water. Eastbound and Down IS that good. Hell and High Water (please pardon the cliche) takes it to the next level. Matt's songwriting ability is amazing and you can definitely hear the musical progression. This album kicks you in the head right off the bat and makes you listen to every song--and enjoy every song.
The most pedestrian way to describe Throttlerod is bluesy, southern influenced hard rock. Throw the word "honest" in their too--these guys do not screw around. Track 6--In the Flood. Heard a solo worth a damn lately? How about two guitars going back and forth in the classic "battle" style? Not something you're interested in? Listen to it and THEN say that. It's rock--big time. Track 7--Whistlin' Dixie--broke my steering wheel pounding along with it's badassitude. A little slap-bass-type funk feel in track 1--Marigold. TOTALLY unexpected, TOTALLY works, and makes you drive faster. WELCOME to the new ryhthm section! Drummer and basser are not new to the band, but this is their first album with Throttlerod. Both are insanely talented.
Buy Hell and High Water. Buy Eastbound and Down. Buy By the Horns (EP). Rock. Pick your ass up off the floor and rock again.

Throttlerod is not an "alternative" to what you have been listening to. Throttlerod is not "different". Throttlerod is not "a nice change" from that crap that spews from the radio and TV. Throttlerod does not "sound like this band or that band". Throttlerod is rock and you will know that within 3 nanoseconds of hearing them. It's just pure rock--something a LOT of people have not heard in WAY too long. Hard and heavy--just like we like it.

If you like DOZER, GREENLEAF, or the like- you would like THROTTLEROD.

If you love DOZER, GREENLEAF, or the like- you would definitely love this band.

Very deep album all the way through track 12, lead will knock your socks off!

Maybe a bit cleaner and refined than its counterparts.

...not for your avg. basement dwelling stoner,

probably for the stoner with a part time job. -j.k.=)

get yourself a copy and enjoy!

I have to admit that I found Throttlerod completely by accident. It was suggested by Amazon so I checked it out. "Nail" was the first one of theirs that I checked out, I was so impressed with it that I purchased "Hell or High Water", it is a very good straight-up rock album, strong from start to finish. Even the slow ballad-esqe song, "Been Wrong", doesn't throw off the flow of the album. I highly recommend this CD. Check out "Nail",as well.