Alabama Thunderpussy Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
If you're looking for some nice, tidily packaged, Pro Tools smoothed over rock, then you've come to the wrong place, buster. But if it's greasy, high cholesterol heavy metal that you crave, then a heaping helping of Alabama Thunderpussy's 2007 release, Open Fire, should certainly hit the spot. Although often lumped in with the stoner rock genre, Alabama Thunderpussy packs much more metallic muscle than the average stoner band -- and this sonic wallop remains intact on Open Fire, despite the departure of longtime vocalist Johnny Throckmorton. New singer Kyle Thomas is one heck of a hollerer though (in the Pepper Keenan/John Garcia mold), so as a result, the group's trademark Sab-esque metal sound remains very much intact -- especially on such standouts as "The Cleansing" and "The Beggar." Retro heavy metal completely devoid of gimmicks is the name of the game here -- and what a treat it is to hear it in this day and age. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Alabama Thunderpussy's fifth album, 2004's Fulton Hill, kicks off with a memorable and poignant-sounding instrumental tellingly named "Such Is Life." This may mean nothing to new fans and casual observers, but for those familiar with the Richmond, VA-based hard rockers, it's a particularly apropos song name in light of the numerous travails (bankrupt labels, lineup changes) troubling the group in the early part of the 2000s. Specifically, the latest challenge addressed by Fulton Hill is the breaking in of new vocalist Johnny Weils (ex-Barbed Wire Dolls), whose replacement of popular founding frontman Johnny Throckmorton no doubt left many questioning ATP's future prospects. Thankfully, the transition seems to have gone off rather smoothly, and, although more time is needed to assess Weils' eventual standing in comparison to his predecessor, the singer acquits himself very well throughout his debut performance with the band (who, incidentally, for their part are still firing on all cylinders). In fact, his harsher, very intense, hardcore-tinged style meshes perfectly with typically high-caliber, riff-heavy, bar-brawling ATP crunch crusades like "R.R.C.C.," "Blasphemy," and "Sociopath Shitlist." He comes across equally confident and a little more musical on more laid-back respites from aggression like the organ-driven "Three Stars" (Southern rock built on a meaty AC/DC riff) and the explosively building "Alone Again." Truly, it's only on the unnecessarily long "Bear Baiting" (which inexplicably buries his voice in the overall mix) and the heartfelt, but awful clumsy acoustic ballad "Do Not" (where his new bandmates rudely dangle him in front of a very substandard take on the Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man" prototype) that his chops and confidence falter in any way, in the process revealing the understandable "feeling out" process inherent to the album's undercurrent. No such problems afflict Fulton Hill's 13-minute closer, "Struggling for Balance," however. Taking a welcome sidetrack into rarely explored (at least by ATP) epic stoner jam territory, the track's well-balanced fusion of pummeling power chords and calmer, hypnotically swirling Arabian melodies marks it as a real winner. More importantly, it also offers comforting assurance that, whatever unexpected obstacles may yet bump their road ahead, Alabama Thunderpussy have already proven to be more resilient than many of their original, long defunct retro-rock peers. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
'Staring at the Divine'
Release Date 8/14/2001
Tracks 10
Label Man's Ruin
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Possibly the biggest band to be set adrift after the unfortunate bankruptcy of the great Man's Ruin label (R.I.P.), stoner rock mainstay Alabama Thunderpussy was, not surprisingly, also one of the first to find a new home. In fact, both the band and their as yet unnamed fourth album were quickly snapped up by astute Relapse Records, who, keen to expand their roster beyond its extreme metal boundaries, knew a good deal when they saw one. However, the transition period leading up to this was still no cakewalk for ATP and, after losing two founding members, the group re-recorded and remixed most of Staring at the Divine before its belated 2002 release. Thankfully, their diligence is rewarded by what is arguably their best effort so far. Standout tracks like "Ol' Unfaithful," "Shapeshifter," the Clutch-like "Whore Adore," and the awesome, almost Thin Lizzy-esque "Hunting By Echo" feature immense, memorable riffs, which find the quintet roaring with more purpose than ever before. Also, Staring at the Divine is infinitely more cohesive and focused than the band's previous offering, the ambitious but often sprawling Constellation (the band's barefaced attempt at becoming Lynyrd Skynyrd); probably because most of the stylistic adventures explored on Constellation are featured here as well, they're just boiled down to a lean, muscular, full-force impact. In fact, the album's only oddity, the country-fried "Amounts That Count," is saved for last, transforming what might have been an intrusive aside into a refreshing coda. More than anything, Staring at the Divine exudes a confident maturity that leaves one feeling that Alabama Thunderpussy is finally on its way. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Alabama Thunderpussy's Southern-fried, boogie-tinged punk-metal falls somewhere between the grunge of Melvins and Alice in Chains, the neo-psychedelic stoner metal of Monster Magnet and Kyuss, and the fierce aggression of Corrosion of Conformity. Their third album, Constellation, largely continues in that vein, offering up a set of ferocious rockers driven by assaultive guitar riffs and a sure sense of groove. The group's songwriting isn't always coherent, but even the moments that lose focus are often put over by the sheer power of the sound. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
An outrageous, over-the-top name like Alabama Thunderpussy can either work to a band's advantage or disadvantage. Some of the more squeamish club owners and might shy away from a act whose name includes the "p word," while others who hear that name are bound to be curious and wonder what River City Revival sounds like. Gratefully, ATP has some worthwhile alternative metal to go with its amusing name. Forceful, brutal, and blistering, River City Revival fits right in with the alternative metal climate of the late '90s -- this is hardly an album that can be accused of having a lot of slickness or pop gloss. However, many of ATP's songs are more groove-minded than what a lot of heavy rockers were providing in the 1990s -- tunes like "Own Worst Enemy," "Heathen," and "Dryspell" have the type of catchy riffs and power chords that pull the listener in right away. Instead of being angular, this band goes for immediacy and knows the value of a decent hook. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Alabama Thunderpussy proclaimed its allegiance to the Deep South with its first Man's Ruin date, Rise Again. The CD booklet contains what appear to be old pictures of Confederate soldiers, and this Richmond, VA, band thanks "the Almighty Lynyrd Skynyrd" in the liner notes. Further, one can safely assume that the title Rise Again is short for "the South shall rise again." But anyone who thought that Rise Again might be a throwback to 1970s Southern rock was in for a major surprise. Hardly a collection of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, or Outlaws covers, Rise Again showed ATP to be a ferocious, noisy alternative metal outfit that went directly for the jugular. Scorching, in-your-face tunes like "When Mercury Drops" and "Get Mad/Get Even" aren't big on subtlety -- ATP pulls the listener in with its heavy-handed riffs and grooves, and the level of intensity doesn't let up very often. Die-hard metalheads will find a lot to admire about this promising effort. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
