For years, since the unfortunate break up of Pantera, and the tragic murder of Dimebag and too many others at that fateful Damageplan show, band after band from either side of the Atlantic have tried to capture the magic of that legendary group. Far too many end up sounding like nothing but wannabee tribute acts and rapidly fade from memory without leaving any real impression. Some manage to bring their own twist on the sound, and for that deserve a second listen and more. The Sign of the Southern Cross, with their debut album ‘…Of Mountains and Moonshine’ find themselves firmly in the latter category.
Citing Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity and Down as their three main influences, bands whose histories are intrinsically linked, shows an honesty and self awareness, their Southern credentials stamped into the very title of the album, as well as the CD itself being printed with a flag of the US Confederacy. Whatever you may think of the politics that particular flag may represent, along with tracks like ‘The South Is Rising’, this band does make a pretty damn good noise.
The album opens with the acoustic title track, all banjoes and steel slide guitar picking before the amps cut in and the metal starts. Guitarist and vocalist Seth Uldricks plays some good riffs, albeit not as fast as Dimebag, having a more laid back approach on tracks like ‘Huck Finn’. Likewise, his vocals with more then a hint of Anselmo, go from growls and screams to bizarre pig calls on the ‘Hog Calling’, the track breaking down from some epic Southern rock riffs into a farmer’s scream for his herd. All this is more then ably backed up by the pounding bass and drum combination of Adam Ranke and Brett Wilson. Being just a three piece, it would be interesting to see if the front man can combine the intensity of his vocals with his riffing. If he can pull it off, it will be an impressive achievement.
The non-stop battering lets up with the six minute plus ‘Eating the Sun’, a gentler 70’s rock guitar interplaying with bluesy rhythms in an opening that could have come from a classic Free album before building up in eddying stoner themes of space travel; a truly epic track that had me happily nodding along in appreciation.
The Sign of The Southern Cross could well be a good addition to any stoner bill, and I look forward to a good promoter bringing them and their bourbon soaked sound across to the UK.
http://www.myspace.com/southerncrossband
http://www.season-of-mist.com
