JACKYL – Rowyco (2016)
Crazy US rockers JACKYL, a band that always will be remembered for ‘that song using a chainsaw instead of a guitar for a solo’, has been one of the most criminally underrated bands in modern rock-n-roll history. What you see is what you get with this four-piece quartet out of Kennesaw, Georgia. Tomorrow August 5th, they are releasing their highly anticipated record entitled “ROWYCO”, the first in many years.
Let me tell you that esteemed vocalist Jesse James Dupree stands out more than ever before in this latest offering, and Jackyl’s as a whole, punchy like never before.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Jackyl shot out of Georgia with its wild, untamed and uncouth approach to rock ‘n’ roll. Equal parts hard rock, heavy metal and Southern rock, Jackyl formed in 1991 and brought back rock ‘n’ roll back — back to its down-to-earth, wild, fun-loving origins. Full of spit and swagger — and a “dirty” sense of humor to boot — Jackyl quickly earned a deal with Geffen Records. Jackyl’s live shows were already legendary before the ink dried on the Geffen contract.
Well, many things have changed in Jackyl’s 2016 sound & style: the ‘Southern’ and AC/DC influences are almost gone, in favor of a more classic Californian late ’80s hard rock style, some kind of a mix between Skid Row, Trixter, Great White and Badlands. And that’s is a more than welcomed thing in my book.
In fact, on “Rowyco”, Jackyl sounds more ‘hair metal’ than many current revival bands of this this genre.
Numbers such as ‘Disasterpiece’, ‘Rally’, ‘Ahead Of My Time’ and especially ‘Crazy’ come straight from the Sunset Strip glory days mold, and they rock with lots of groove, flesh & blood.
Of course there’s a bluesy hard rock number in the midtempo ‘Just Because I’m Drunk’, but more in the Great White vein than Jackyl’s former AC/DC-like styling.
Jackyl also offers their usual tongue-in-cheek approach with their song ‘Limpdick’, which to me somewhat accurately describes today’s politically correct society while having that take-no-prisoners attitude that Jackyl possesses. I do appreciate how the band changes it up to making you want to get on the dance floor and grind with your loved one in ‘Everyone’s A Winner’, a rocker with some Motley Crue on it.
This record will get your motor running and firing on all cylinders, so grab your friends, grab your women, grab some cold ones, and come rock out with me on this one. It’s time to celebrate what’s left of summer as Jackyl melt your face with biker rally songs and a late ’80s style & sound on “Rowyco”.
I have never been a big Jackyl fan, but “Rowyco” should be their best album to date with a more ‘pure US hard rock’ sound / songwriting ever.
So, if you only know the band by that “one song that has the chainsaw” or ‘Down On Me’, I really encourage you to pick up “Rowyco” on August 5th when it’s available.
Highly Recommended
01. Disasterpiece
02. Rally
03. All Night Rodeo
04. Ahead Of My Time
05. Just Because I’m Drunk
06. Everyone’s A Winner
07. Crazy
08. Hammer To The Head
09. Limpdick
10. Blast Off
Jesse James Dupree – Vocals and Guitar
Jeff Worley – Guitar
Roman Glick – Bass
Chris Worley – Drums
PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.com/ROWYCO-Jackyl/dp/B01G8VCIC2
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