This is the debut solo album from the former Pantera bassist. Yes, I know there was Kill Devil Hill, but that was a band – and this isn’t. For those of you expecting a clone Pantera album are going to be disappointed – this is a very melodic hard rockin’ album, well Side 1 is. This is the limited edition on brown swirl smoke vinyl.
Things start off nicely with Lone Rider, with a very southern feel and a fat riff which sees Rex not only playing bass, but also rhythm guitar, and singing with a smokey tinge to the vocals. Great song to start! Next up is Crossing Lines, with a very southern feel with some cool slide. Then its Buried Alive, with a nice acoustic intro that builds into a very southern groove. Up next is the best song on the album, Train Song, with its huge swinging groove of a riff. If this doesn’t get you up and movin’ then you’re gonna need a transplant of your groove organ. Get Yourself Alright is next, which is very autobiographical for Rex with all the health issues he has gone through. Side closer, Faultline, is a ballad which has a country/blues feel to it.
Flipping the wax onto Side 2 and opener What Comes Around has a very laid back verse in to fat chorus. Another laid back tune in Grace follows, and all the good vibes from Side 1 are but a distant memory so far. Perhaps So Into You can lift spirits? It does, with its almost Sleeze rock beginning and again some nice slide playing. A very ordinary Best Of Me is next, and then into the last track One Of These Days, which is a big power ballad closer.
So there you have it – not a bad, but not a great album. It is let down by Side 2.
10/10 for Train Song as it’s a belter of a tune, but 6/10 for the album as a whole from the Grooveman.
