Honky’s as stable as the rodeo. Led by the twin cowboy hats of bassist JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers) and Bobby Ed Landgraf (Down, Skrew), Austin’s beardtastic power trio rarely expands beyond its own self-imposed boundaries, but the band just as rarely falters in its hip-shaking hellbilly rawk. Corduroy, the band’s seventh album, introduces a few new wrinkles: “Outta Season” makes excellent use of the Grupo Fantasma horn section, and “Bad Stones” lets Rae Comeau overdub herself into a backing choir. “I Don’t Care” even offers banjo-laced country blues. Otherwise, Corduroy keeps Honky’s distorted chug finely tuned. “Double Fine,” “Baby Don’t Slow Down,” and Pat Travers’ “Snortin’ Whiskey” gleefully ride Landgraf’s six-string sizzle, Pinkus’ cable-thick basslines, and a hard rock wallop from a variety of drummers, including original skin-beater Lance Farley and current timekeeper Trinidad Leal (Dixie Witch). New twists on old formulas are always welcome, but they’re also unnecessary for an act with a black belt in boogie.

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This article appears in July 15 • 2016.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.