Band : Molly Hatchet
Album title : Justice
Label : SPV – Suburban
Distributor : SPV – Suburban - Bertus
Release Date : 24/05/2010
Release : CD

Molly Hatchet, a band that’s been around for a few many years, but a band I’ve never closely followed.
This was mainly because some 20 years ago my interests went more towards metal and hard rock. The only exception at that time being Blackfoot and ZZ Top, which I did like.

In growing older I left the metal aside for a while, and directed my interests toward AOR, but I also started listening to Southern Rock,  starting with 38 Special, who of course were far more commercial, but still Molly Hatchet didn’t really get my attention.
It was only a few years later, when Lynyrd Skynyrd remerged, that at one time while going through the special offers section of a record store,  I found a best of album and bought it.  After listening to it a few times my opinion was that they were not bad, but something was lacking, although I didn't know what.

When I was asked to review their latest album I wondered what it was going to be.  And I was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe in growing older my musical style has evolved somewhat, but immediately I got the feeling this was going to be one hell of an album.
And right I was. The opening track immediately knocks you of your feet, pure energy, nice guitar work, good vocal work. Track two opens with some pounding drums, and reminds me of the scene in a movie with the late Patrick Swayze, I think the movie was called "Roadhouse", but I'm not entirely sure of it, where there's a band performing on stage, sheltered behind chicken wire to avoid being hit by a beer glass or bottle.   That's the athmosphere I got while listening.  Track 4 brings us what I'd call vintage pre-Eliminaor ZZ-Top.

Track 5 "I'm Gonna Live 'Till I Die" opens with a longish intro, and holds the middle between a ballad and a pure rock song, mostly because it's played at a slower pace. Then track 6 comes along which opens with a child singing "Fly On Wings Of Angels (Somer's Song).  There's a whole story connected to this song, because the child singing it is actually the sister of Somer Thompson from Florida, a child brutally abused an murdered at only seven years of age.  Molly Hatchet actually played a charity concert to raise money for Somer's parents.  It's a very moving song, not only musically, but one should also listen carefully to the lyrics. 

Track 7 "As Heaven Is Forever", here the opening reminds me a bit of John Hiatt's "Perfectly Good Guitar but goes on to become a good mid-tempo song.  Track 8 somehow brings back memories to 38 Special.  Track 9 again has a long intro, and then turns into what I'd call almost pure Blackfoot.  Track 10 I find the weakest song on the entire album. But then along comes the final, and title track of the album "Justice".  I played this track over and over again.  It sent shivers down my spine.  This is the type of song  you'd think only Lynyrd Skynyrd were or are able to write, a real anthem.  I'd say "Justice" can easily stand the comparison with Skynyrd's "The Last Rebel". To sum it up: the best southern rock album I've heard this far.

97/100

Erik Morren.