Molly Hatchet

Justice by Molly Hatchet (SPV/Steamhammer)

The spirit of Southern Rock lives on and thrives with a mighty vengeance thanks to bands such as Molly Hatchet still recording remarkable albums to this date. Since their inception back in 1975, Molly Hatchet had continually done the South proud with hits such as Flirtin’ With The Disaster and Beatin’ The Odds rendering them legends in their hometown of Jacksonville, FL and beyond. And while just a single original member remains, Molly Hatchet continues to prosper and has unleashed yet another powerful collection of tunes entitled Justice.

A terrific follow-up to the astonishing Warriors Of The Rainbow Bridge, the 11 anthems found within Justice clearly show a band at the very height of their creative prowess. Main songwriter and long time guitarist Bobby Ingram conveys an extraordinary passion with the material, and remains an effective force to be reckoned with – and the current lineup supports his vision with a fierce sense of conviction. Dealing with a wide variety of topics, Justice packs an emotional wallop that is sure to cement the band’s reputation as one of the world’s greatest Southern rock collectives for the generations to come.

Justice opens with the super dynamic sounds of Been To Heaven, Been To Hell, a triumph of spirit and perseverance that ranks right up there with the greatest of Molly Hatchet classics. The treasure trove of rock continues with the mighty strains of Safe In My Skin and then proceeds to thrill the senses with the magnificent Deep Water.

American Pride is another top cut guaranteed to satisfy the hardcore Molly Hatchet fan base. As Heaven Is Forever is another highlight – a grand demonstration on just how effective the band can be with a power ballad.

There are three songs over eight minutes in length that really demonstrate the full potential of the 21st Century Molly Hatchet. I’m Gonna Live Till I Die could be the band’s own personal anthem as well as a gift to the fans whose dedication has not wavered throughout the passages of time.

Then there’s Fly On The Wings Of Angels (Somers Song) – a truly haunting track dedicated to seven-year-old Somer Thompson – a young girl from Florida who was abused and brutally murdered. Somer’s sister Abby sings at the beginning and end of the song, and it’s a devastating work that tugs at the heartstrings. The band recently did a benefit concert to help out the Thompson family, and it was recently announced that a prime suspect in the case was apprehended. But as Bobby Ingram states in the press notes, “The indication is that he killed her. But we will be fair and not prematurely judge him until all questions have been answered. That’s also a part of true justice.”

The third epic track arrives at the conclusion of the album as the title cut Justice, closing out the disc on a thunderous yet introspective note.  A thoroughly satisfying record from beginning to end, Justice is a terribly important work from a band that still has a whole lot to express through their art.

The tremendous Molly Hatchet 2010 lineup consists of Phil McCormack on vocals, Bobby Ingram on guitar, original member Dave Hlubek on guitar, Tim Lindsey on bass, John Galvin on keyboards, and Shawn Beamer on drums. In an age of synthetic music and trends that die as fast as they are born, it is thrilling to hear the impassioned sounds of a band such as Molly Hatchet, still able to electrify the world with their vibrant, timeless songs. Justice is their modern day classic that will be remembered by hard rock fans for many years to come.

(Review by Kenneth Morton)

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