Assjack

That's right Assjack. Not Jack Ass. Assjack is a heavy metal band fronted by Hank Williams III. Yep, the son of the guy who sings the Monday now Sunday Night Football introduction song. Hank III has been tearing up the country scene for sometime now but has regularly been playing two sets at his shows. The first set is his country music and then he comes back on and scares the shit out of his fans with hardcore punk metal.

Assjack's first album is a ten-track selftitled affair written and played entirely by Hank III himself. Having listened to some of Hank's country tunes his punk-outlaw persona is definitely intact here on Assjack but he cranks up the attitude. The first track opens with a Slayer Reign in Blood-esque riff and then blasts off with double-bass action, hey-hey sing-a-long and chug-chug riffage all leading up the FUCK YOU MUTHAFUCKER!!! A couple of themes are constant throughout this album sonically and lyrically. On the sonic side, vocal distortion effects, double-bass, snare-drums, and fuzzy guitars. Lyrically it is very simple, being an outlaw and getting wasted.

The album is loud and fast (like a good punk album) but aggressive like a young heavy metal band just thrashing as fast as they can and making lots of noise (think slipknot's first album). What I cannot figure out is whether or not to take the lyrics seriously. THey are over the top, but so is Hank's country lyrics. Not to mention this guy plays country sets and then actually comes back on the stage and plays Assjack music. Seriously who does something like that? Hank Williams the third does and he does it well.