Following the success of their 2014 release “Ride On,” Texas Hippie Coalition is back on the attack with their fourth full length record “Dark Side of Black” via Carved Records. The album is the heaviest thing THC has done yet with damaging riffs, down and dirty grooves, and contagious melodies. Their special brand of Red Dirt Metal is part southern rock and part metal, the best of both worlds. For this record, THC has upped the ante in a big way.
The raucous “Come Get It” kicks things off with a bang with the menacing vocals of frontman and self acclaimed captain of the ship Big Dad Ritch front and center. Next up is “Angel Fall” with its softer opening, but don’t be fooled because the
guitar of Cord Pool starts ripping in no time. THC even takes a shot at a “power ballad” with “Knee Deep” which is about as much of a ballad as you’ll get from these guys. The rhythm section of drummer Timmy Braun and bassist John Exall drive the beats throughout the record and seem at home with the heavier sound this time out. “Into the Wall” has an awesome groove, one that makes you want to get up and dance and you best hold on to your hat for the wild ride of “Villain.”
Texas Hippie Coalition has just delivered one bad ass album with “Dark Side of Black.” It’s like a mixture of cayenne pepper and gun powder, “Puh Pow!” This is one that needs to be on every metal and rock fans shelf. In the words of Big Dad Ritch himself, “Ohhhhhh, yeaaaaah!”
