Album Review: Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On (MNRK Heavy)

Heavy Southern rock band Texas Hippie Coalition will release their seventh studio album, The Name Lives On, on 21st April 2023 via MNRK Heavy.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn’t enjoy at least one track from Texas Hippie Coalition, thanks to their inimitable catchy groove. The band are adept at creating head-banging anthems and, once again, they have absolutely smashed it with this new album.

Setting the bar high early on with the chunky, groovy, and anthemic punch of heavy rock that is Hell Hounds. It’s a brash and confident start to the album, Texas Hippie Coalition showing a delicious heavier side to Southern rock.

Something that happily continues into the meaty riff monster that is I Come from the Dirt where we all find ourself rolling around in the muck Texas Hippie Coalition create. Before they hit a radio high with the old-school rocking Built for the Road. A track that has plenty of AC/DC influence to it and, like the Aussie legends, compels your body to move.

It’s a hard reaction to deny, especially when their throwing out such insanely infectious and raucous efforts as Scream, Bad Habit, Believe, and License to Kill. Track after track of heavy and groovy Southern rock that puts the stupidest smile on the face. The middle portion of this album is just so much fun.

With a bit more bite, Keep My Name Out of Your Mouth finds Texas Hippie Coalition in a crankier and more experimental mood. The rhythm is fiery, a bit more erratic, and the vocals are at their gruffest. It’s not as ‘catchy’ as the rest of the album but it’s a refreshing change at this late point.

Which brings us to I Teach Angels How to Fly and the title track; the final pairing of the record. The former has a gloomier tone, features some wistful melodies, but has one of the album’s best chorus. A side to Texas Hippie Coalition that doesn’t make an appearance much, but is exceptionally good. Whereas the latter combines dramatic melody, drawling vocals, and hits of pithier groove. It’s not the hottest of endings, but satisfies regardless.

It’s a great release and it manages to keep Southern rock interesting from beginning to end, which isn’t often the case.

Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On Track Listing:

1. Hell Hounds
2. I Come from the Dirt
3. Built for the Road
4. Scream
5. Hard Habit
6. Believe
7. License to Kill
8. Keep My Name Out of Your Mouth
9. I Teach Angels How to Fly
10. The Name Lives On

Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter