Blue Ridge Death Cult- Bones to Dust

What?! Two reviews in a single day?! What madness is this?!

So as I age, I find that I prefer EP's over full length albums. I'm not sure why. Maybe its the fact that as I age I have less time to really listen to and absorb music like I used to as a younger metalhead. I feel like EP's give me a good understanding of musical intent but don't linger to the point of frustration. Some bands only need a few songs. It could also be that I'm just getting old... either way. 

So back we are again in Gainsville, GA, Again there must be something in the water up there. Blue Ridge Death Cult is a Southern Metal/Hard rock band from up there. They present 6 songs of Southern fried metal on this first EP. I'm not sure about the pedigree of these guys (i.e. whether they are veterans of metal music or a wholly new band). However, they released this EP earlier this year and I slept on it but finally have given it a listen. So is it as worthy as their fellow Gainsvillians (Gainsvillites?) in Swamp lung? Let's find out. 

Blue Ridge Death Cult play a more traditional strain of southern metal. To my ears they remind of early Alabama Thunderpussy but absent the stoner haze and adding a biker vibe. If that sounds like a good time to you (it sure does to me) than I think you'll enjoy this record. Its much more accessible than the Swamp lung but kicks as hard in its Southern groove and swagger. Bluesy riffs collide over rocking rhythms and beats. Guitarist , bass and drums are in fine condition here. The singer hits a more normal mid range rock style while accenting songs in the right place with a deeper bellow that actually fits the music nicely. 

Starting with rager "Stay Haggard" to the wild "Devil to Pay" and "Hell in a handbasket" through the local anthem "Rabbittown Royalty" and  the bluegrass flecked interlude "Foxfire" to the the final stomp of "Back in the Bag(Blood Mountain)" The EP shreds and boogies with the best of them both never overdoing anything but also leaving you wanting more. Good Southern fried heavy metal right here.

Its not the more sludgy metal I prefer form the South but this is a solid piece of musical tastiness that any fan of bluesy Southern heaviness would enjoy. And "Devil to Pay" has one of my favorite lyrical moments in "Hell is coming with me if I get back up". If you like you're hard rock Southern fried and with a good dose hard scrabble swagger you could do a whole lot worse than this. 

HIghlights: "Devil to Pay" and "Rabbittown Royalty" but a solid record through and through. Like Swamp lung, I'm hoping to see these guys soon and will report back with more when I do. Check em out:

https://www.instagram.com/blue_ridge_death_cult/

I'll be doing the last of these Gainsville bands either Friday or next Monday. Either way thanks for reading and keep on rocking.