Review by Peter Coates – www.facebook.com/InsideEdgePhotography

CODY PARKS & THE DIRTY SOUTH
Thunder Cash 69
Released – 20^th Jan 2023

This is a raucous mash-up of White Zombie’s Thunder Kiss 65 and Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues, which on any regular analysis of current musical trends, should not work at all.

Cody Parks & The Dirty South style themselves as a “country metal” band from Nashville, that literally blends both genres in their music. Sometimes they like to do unique versions of cover songs for their live set, and Cody told me that he’s always played Folsom, but one day when they were rehearsing it, they figured we needed to make it more unique, because everyone plays the same ol’ version of that song. One of the guys started playing the Zombie riff and the rest was history.  It started poppin’ at shows and on the socials, so they figured what the hell…let’s record it!

Review by Peter Coates – www.facebook.com/InsideEdgePhotography

JARED JAMES NICHOLS – JJN
Released – 13^th Jan 2022
Black Hill Records

Singer, guitarist, songwriter and Gibson Guitars brand ambassador Jared James Nichols has announced his self-titled new album will be released on January 13th via Black Hill Records. Jared James Nichols, his third full-length offering, features the new single Down The Drain as well as the previously released Hard Wired. The collection showcases every side of the Nashville-based multi-talent and the various genres he grew up listening to, whether it was grunge or blues, that have influenced his authentic sound.

Review by Peter Coates – www.facebook.com/InsideEdgePhotography

HEROES & MONSTERS
Heroes & Monsters
Released – 20^th Jan 2023
Frontiers Music

There is a significant volume of hard and melodic rock released under the Frontiers label, and a fair share of it leaves me unmoved, lacking any real spark of originality, and often seeing inter-changeable players and producers involved.

However, I am in no position to criticise the intent and dedication to releasing music, so can only comment on what resonates with me.

Every so often, something pops up that appears outside the normal Frontiers genre and the Heroes and Monsters project, formed by three rock n’ roll lifers and friends, bassist/vocalist Todd Kerns, guitarist Stef Burns, and drummer Will Hunt, seems to be one of these gems.