NO JACKASSERY FROM ASSJACK
Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 2:00pm by Gary Suarez
Boasting a resume that features members of Pantera more prominently than any Nashville session players, multi-instrumentalist Hank Williams III has defiantly cultivated a career and an image in stark contrast to the country roots evoked by his iconic namesake. Though hardly abandoning his heritage, the grandson of the honky tonk pioneer continues to mystify and enthrall with this, the first “official” release from this band.
When Phil Anselmo recruited Williams to join his abrasive side-project Superjoint Ritual as its bassist, it had to come as a shock to those familiar with his “neotraditional” country releases. But surely they had to have seen the signs in Williams’ lyrical content that he was anything but enamored with the Nashville status quo. By aligning himself one of the most well-known figures in metal, he was waging a conscious campaign to prove that he didn’t need to be confined to anyone’s narrow standards in order to make good music. This dyad, coupled with his infamously bipolar solo gigs (featuring half-country, half-metal sets), elevated Williams to a sort of cult status. Though some of his choices have not produced particularly memorable results – last year’s barely passable Arson Anthem release with Anselmo and Eyehategod’s Mike Williams certainly comes to mind – the long-awaited self-titled Assjack offers nonstop thrills, grooves, and vitriol over the course of its ten tracks.
Though hardcore punk has an undeniable influence on Assjack, I cautiously avoid attaching the oft-stigmatizing metalcore label to this. Some call it psychobilly; others call it cowpunk. Ultimately, Williams calls it death metal, and while that’s obviously up for debate, without a doubt Assjack is his most accessible heavy music effort yet. At the same time, it’s surprisingly diverse, often in the confines of a single song. For example, “Wasting Away” switches between blastbeat-laden verses and groove metal choruses. Though not as chaotic as Mike Patton’s projects, I am reminded of a less-kooky version of Fantomas when listening to “Cut Throat” and the reefer-referencing highlight “Chokin’ Gesture.” The drug talk doesn’t end there, of course, but “Cocaine The White Devil” seems more cautionary than celebratory with its paralytic slow-motion bridge and nightmarish howls.
For longtime fans that have had to make do with bootlegs, this album should come as a reward for their patience and devotion. Though not the first country-fried metal album to come from the Pantera universe (see: Rebel Meets Rebel, which joined David Allan Coe with Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, and Rex Brown), Assjack doesn’t beat listeners over the head with its Southern origins. Instead, it capitalizes on Williams’ outlaw image so extensively that there’s no audible evidence of compromise. This is clearly the album that he has longed to make, and thankfully it turned out to be a rewarding and brutal listen.
(3 ½ out of 5 horns)
-GS
[Gary Suarez feels like chicken tonight. He usually manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No. Say, why don't you follow him on Twitter?]
I couldnt really get into the new cd, wasnt bad but thats about all I could say. I am bummed though that I missed his summer tour a couple years ago when he had Arp on guitar that would of been amazing
Dude I feel lucky to say when the Psyopus, Faceless tour came through ATL, Hank III and Assjack were upstairs and Arp ran up and played with Assjack, it was siiiiick
Iw as getting ready to email in and see if anyone was going to do a write up on this one. I have been listening to the Assjack bootlegs forever and am finallyglad to see this out,it is real good stuff.
FINALLY!!! i have an old boot leg from when he was touring here a few years ago. it was so great that about 10 times over the course of his 2 hour country set, he said “ok, those of you that don’t like heavy metal should just get the fuck out when we’re done, because we are going to take a short break and come back and rip your fucking heads off with some heavy metal”… sure enough, not 15 minutes after Hank III was done, Assjack was on the stage. killer, killer show.
A 16 oz can of PBR costs 6.50 at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. You can normally get a twelve-pack for about the same cost. I spent at least $40 on delicious, sweet PBR when I saw Hank III & Assjack a few weeks back. It was worth every red cent!
This was a good review for a great band, though more could be said about bad ass Gary Lindsey. I think he was responsible for most of the “nightmarish howls” on the CD. He might also be the best part of an Assjack show. He’s the added element that pushes a great show over the edge into MADNESS!
I tried to get into this record, but maybe it’s just because I’m used to Hank 3’s country stuff. Musically, I was into it… vocally, however…
Been supporting him since his first country CD. Good stuff. Glad to see Curb wised up and released this. I prefer the rawness of the old bootlegs, but this is still good.
i think it’s worth noting that hank iii plays ALL the instruments on this album: guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. i have to disagree with the post about gary lindsey, the guy he takes on the road with him to help out on vox for assjack. that guy is a douche. i would enjoy assjack more if he wasn’t on stage.
i saw hank iii/assjack at the orange peel in asheville a few weeks ago… i have to admit i don’t remember the country set because i drank almost a half jar of moonshine beforehand. but i was up front for the metal part and my ears were ringing the next day! i saw the show july 3 in raleigh and that was probably the tightest i’ve ever seen hank iii…i’m just disappointed joe buck wasn’t on the tour playing bass.
i think hank iii is one of the most important musicians of our time!
Do you mean that he’s a douche as a person? Or he’s a douche onstage?
Hey, i was at that Raleigh show (the dude with the beat up thrash vest), and it kicked all sorts of ass. Hank played for three hours with three different bands (Hank III, Hellbilly, and Assjack.) I still haven’t given this cd a spin yet, because I’m still waiting for it to come in the mail. However, StH and DR,RP are always in the ol’ CD player.
I’m definitely checking this out… Hank III is one of the only two country artists that i will voluntarily listen to, Johnny Cash being the other (involuntarily is a different story… the wife likes country music, unfortunately). His country work is great (see “Straight To Hell”), and this should be interesting.
Straight to Hell is a great country album. If you liked that you should really get his new one, “Damn Right, Rebel Proud”. It’s just as good.
I actually prefer Damn Right, Rebel Proud. It’s a little more traditional, but still very Hank 3. He’s surely coming into his own!
I get the connection through pantera from playing with superjoint, but is phil or anybody else on this cd?
Compared to his grandfather and father, this Hank sucks ass.
Maybe compared to his grandfather, you could make an argument for that…but compared to his father? The guy who did the Monday night football song??? REALLY???
I’m gonna say you’re off your rocker.
Hank iii is one of the few contemporary country artists worth following. Snr an undisputed legend, Jnr ive never cared for. But im a metalhead first and from a metalhead perspective this is my favourite album thus far this year. UK tour next month cannot wait. Gonna get real loud, get stoned n get proud n have a damn good time…… which is also a good summary of this album heheheh
Alright, I’m listening to this album at the moment, and it’s pretty good… however, the production is really bugging me. It clips almost as badly as Death Magnetic, and the drums sound like a drum machine. The bass drum is extremely clicky and has no ‘oomph’ to it at all. That aside, the album itself is pretty good. Hank III’s vocals aren’t exactly suited to this kind of music, but it works in a weird kind of way. I just wish it sounded a little better.
This record is fantastic.
I think Gary Lindsey rocks! He has more energy that most performers these days and brings and intensity and energy to the show that those prior his participation lacked. I saw the band before Gary Lindsey was in AssJack and after and I would I would say he is an added bonus all around not a douche bag like Bob has mentioned although bob hasn’t addressed WHY he thinks he’s a douche bag so hard to comment directly.