Post by jptheprofessor on Nov 12, 2007 16:18:48 GMT -5
WAY DOWN EAST – SUMMON THE SEA HAG (no label) Delivering the thunder of an army of monster trucks, Way Down East roars back into action with their long-awaited sophomore album, Summon the Sea Hag. The McConnellsburg quartet picks up where their Modern Day Outlaws debut left off, delivering eighteen powerful new assaults that clock in at over an hour. Singer/guitarist Paul Wilson, guitarist Charles Harr, new bassist Horse Gelvin and drummer Randy Wilson hone their brand of booming, redneck-flavored heavy rock; blending the jagged firepower of Pantera, Motorhead, Corrosion Of Conformity and Clutch with the southern-styled swagger of ZZ Top and Jackyl. The weighty drum and bass rumble, topped by abundant buzzsaw guitar riffage, sets the backdrop for Paul's fierce and proud razorback roar as he muses on a variety of topics, many championing his rural roots. He extols the virtues of small-town country life on the boisterous opener "My Home," exhibits agricultural might on "Where Alfalfa Grows," and expresses his fear of the big city on the Motorhead-like speed burner "Caught in the Crosshairs." "Hillbilly Rock n Roll" is the group's sassy statement of purpose, while conquest is on their mind on the title track "Summon the Sea Hag." The group offers humorous odes to a golf course misadventure on "Jager Shots for Par," and late night ladies on "3 in the Morning." In a more serious tone, the Pantera-like "He-Haw Jehad" denounces religious extremism, and Paul weighs in on Washington bureaucracy, media brainwashing and our own apathy on "Law of the Land." Way Down East sounds confident throughout the album, with the group's swaggering delivery nicely complementing Paul's hearty bluster. The album's production gives Way Down East ample thunder, while leaving jagged edges and allowing Paul's voice to cleanly display its full force and fury. Way Down East further defines their rural-rooted brand of punishing rock on Summon the Sea Hag, a rowdy, loud, proud and superior follow-up well worth checking out. (To obtain the CD, visit Way Down East's Myspace website, www.myspace.com/waydowneast06.)