by Karl Madsen, Editor

1. Black Oak Arkansas – Back Thar N’ Over Yonder – So, in the 70’s there was this group that set the trends for groups that followed: The three guitar line-up of Lynard Skynard, the husky growl of David Lee Roth, the sexual innuendo of Kiss, and the stage presence of Aerosmith. All this and being one of the godfathers of southern rock – Black Oak Arkansas has returned from a 30 year silence. Back Thar N’ Over Yonder is a great way to test the waters. Comprised of five new and ten previously unreleased songs, this offering proves that time has taken some of the members away, and diminished skill a bit, but the band still has a passion to create music. Pick this up for the rocker on your list whose good old days were in the 70’s.

2. Suicidal Tendencies – 13 – Another group who was influential in their time but has been silent for a number of years, Suicidal Tendencies, has released their first album in 13 years, thus the title 13. This is a solid album that still has that skate punk-thrash feel if not the urgency. Not every song is Suicidal Tendencies material, but that why Infectious Groovies exists, to showcase the versatility of the band. This is for the surfer or skater who needs a new motivation to break out their favorite board.

3. Texas Hippie Coalition – Peacemaker – I found this band on YouTube before this album was released and was blown away by the sound and the energy. Think ZZ Top with a second guitarist named Zakk Wylde. If you want to give the near perfect gift include a bottle of bourbon in the gift bag. For fans of ZZ Top, Zakk Wykde, Brand New Sin, Shinedown, and Theory of a Deadman.

4. Scar the Martyr – Scar the Martyr – Side projects abound these days when band members want to spread their own wings, try something different, or the group is stagnant and the members need to pay the rent, and Slipknot seems to spawn more side projects then most other bands. Dirty Little Rabbits, To My Surprise, Murderdolls, and Stone Sour can add Joey Jordison’s Scar the Martyr to the list. I am surprised by this because, like any project, the leaders instrument is spotlighted, and this is no different, kinda. Kinda because of two things; one is that when I’m listening to this and the drums seem to be overpowering, the other instruments come together and blend to create a full, satisfying sound; and second is that Joey Jordison is a good enough drummer to actually weave a melodic beat that can withstand being brought to the lead. Newcomer, Henry Derek, has a great sound and meshes well with this project and will do well in the metal genre. Grab this one for your Slipknot, Stone Sour, Sentenced, and Poisonblack headbanger.

5. Evile – Skull – This is Evile’s fourth album, and if you’ve been paying attention these guys sound an awful lot like pre-Black album Metallica, and we all know what happened with the fourth album. Well, that didn’t happen with these guys. Their fourth album would make a great gift for fans of Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, Testament, and Slayer.

My honorable mentions take their roots from the glory days of the 70’s and 80’s.

Enforcer – Death By Fire – This group proudly claims the glory days of hair metal as their influence. Get this for fans of Motley Crue, Tesla, EZO, and anyone with so much Aqua Net in their hair they are a fire hazard.

Scorpion Child – – Southern blues rock reminiscent of the of the 70’s jam bands. Pick this up for fans of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and Hawkwind.

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