Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 04/15/2008
Hammerlock's members have never been champions of political correctness -- in fact, it's safe to say that the trio's risk-taking, totally infectious blend of
alternative metal,
punk, and
country-fried
Southern rock has been a rebellion against all things PC. And those who singer/guitarist
Travis Kenney (lead vocals, guitar) and his wife
Liza Kenney (bass, vocals) have offended in the past won't be converted by
Barefoot and Pregnant, which is
Hammerlock's first album for the Philadelphia-based
Steel Cage label and third album overall. The hilarious front cover shows a picture of an obviously pregnant
Liza baring her belly and pointing a rifle in the air while she stands near the kitchen sink -- in other words,
the Kenneys are going out of their way to thumb their noses at political correctness. But there is much more to
Hammerlock than shock value. The hilarious front cover might grab one's attention, but the excellence of the material is what keeps it. Those who appreciated
Hammerlock's two previous albums on
Man's Ruin will find that
the Kenneys (who are joined by drummer
Jamey Howell) haven't lost any of their freshness;
Hammerlock is still one of the most fresh-sounding bands in the
alternative metal field. While other
punk-minded
alt-metal outfits are turning to
hip-hop and
industrial for inspiration,
the Kenneys are inspired by
Southern rock and
country -- and
Travis Kenney proudly, defiantly flaunts his hell-raisin' shotgun-totin' good ol' boy image on raucous gems like
"Colorado Mountain Goat" and
"I Don't Owe You Shit." This CD also contains inspired covers of three
country classics:
Ernest Tubb's
"Jealous Loving Heart," Charlie Daniels'
"Long Haired Country Boy," and
Waylon Jennings'
"Good Hearted Woman," all of which lend themselves nicely to
Hammerlock's
alt-metal/
punk/
Southern rock outlook. If
Anthems for Outlaws is
Hammerlock's most essential album,
Barefoot and Pregnant runs an impressively close second.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide