Hobble Blackmassking (Action Rock)

Hobble

Blackmassking (Action Rock)

Young, sweaty, and pissed off. "The bullet went through my brain, but I'm still the same." Ouch. If you're going to run around screaming lyrics like that, it helps to have a band that kicks ass. Hobble does, and they're brief, too; out of 13 songs on their debut Blackmassking, exactly three are longer than three minutes. Short, nasty, and to the point: "Die-die-die-die-die-die-die-die!" This type of sped-up metal hasn't changed much since Metallica was wearing out their old Misfits records, but Austin's Hobble does bring some nice modern touches to the table, like evil Voodoo Glow Skulls ska on "You and You and You" and "AKillin," bad-ass Nashville Pussy boogie-woogie on "Always Stealin'," and industrial-strength Rollins Band angst on "Then I Got Out." There's even a couple of classic ZZ Top riffs buried somewhere beneath all the sludge. Tight as a noose, Hobble hasn't forgotten it takes more than Marshall stacks and loads of attitude to make a band. It takes songs, and even though theirs are short, they've got 'em. It's more than today's radio grunts like Slipknot (or even my favorite, Disturbed) are able to muster, and Hobble should be proud. Just don't go patting them on the back, because they'll probably kick you in the nuts.