Southern rock is not dead! In fact it's alive and well and living in... Pennsylvania? Well believe it or not, such is the case for
Raging Slab, who brought the best of their three-guitar assault to their 1993 Def American release
Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert. Diversity is the key here, and besides writing a great set of tunes, singer, guitarist, and leader Greg Strzempka even adds banjo to the album's purest country moment, "So Help Me." The former also features lap steel from Elyse Steinman, whose slide guitar gives that extra kick to most of the album, but especially to the phenomenal "Pearly." "Lynne" is a beautiful ballad with string arrangements courtesy of
John Paul Jones, "Lord Have Mercy" is pure gospel, "Laughin' and Cryin'" verges on metal, "Take a Hold" features some memorable three-way guitar harmonizing, and "Anywhere but Here" is simply awesome all-around. With closer "Ain't Ugly None" riding a groove as big as China, this album certainly qualifies as a well-kept secret. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia