Has it really been four years since this here damn yankee covered those good ol’ boys in The Georgia Thunderbolts? Indeed it has, and shame on me for somehow managing to miss an entire album cycle in the form of their sophomore outing, Can We Get a Witness (2021). Those who were keeping tabs on this little webzine in the dog days of the pandemic will remember just how much we got down to the honest to goodness sounds of their 2020 self titled EP. I’m happy to say those elements have been explored and expanded upon even further on their third full length affair, Rise Above It All.
Just like the EP and Can We Get a Witness (yes, I did check it out after the fact) before it, Rise Above It All is an all killer, no filler southern rock jamboree, complete with all the fixings one would want from an album of this nature. While the songwriting and approach is fresh, the spirit is straight out of the ’70s in all its dazed and confused glory. It truly was a wild time, when bands as raw, blunt, and diverse as Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Black Sabbath could ascend to arena headliner status, selling millions of units along the way: All bands, mind you, whose ancient hands are guiding the Thunderbolts.
In true southern rock fashion, Rise Above It All is a roughly 50/50 mix of rockers and ballads, the latter being far from what many rock fans come to expect when hearing that treacherous “b” word. No, these odes come straight from the heart. Look no further than the country flavored romps of “Moonlight Play”, “Wait”, and “Crawling My Way Back to You”. Between its gentle guitar stylings and layered harmony vocals, one can’t help but draw comparisons to Florida’s guitar army, the Outlaws, as well as the aforementioned Skynyrd at their most introspective. That said, the Skynyrd influence extends far beyond the ballads.
When the Thunderbolts rock, they rock hard! Whether it be the lumbering “She’s Gonna Get It”, Bad Company-esque “Rock and Roll Record”, or rightfully fuzzed out title track, these dudes sure know how to craft an anthem and a half. All they need now is a packed arena and 20,000 screaming fans to pump their fists and singalong. The slick bluesy fire of “Ain’t Got No Money” is more than relatable to myself and countless others right now, while the crushing “Little Jim” and dare I say Metallica flavored “Pricetag” borders on flat out southern metal. Yes, you read that correctly. Think what Metallica attempted to do on Load with songs like “Ain’t My Bitch” and “2 X 4”, but done right.
Even though its been a few years since I’ve given them a thorough listen, these Thunderbolts haven’t lost the slightest bit of their attack, guaranteed to strike at the heart of any self respecting rocker. Since similarly natured southern rock revivalists like Blackberry Smoke and Whiskey Myers have already achieved substantial success here in the US of A, there’s no reason that The Georgia Thunderbolts shouldn’t be up next. They’re rockin’ enough for the rock crowd and downhome enough for the country crowd. It’s a win-win situation just waiting to be pounced upon. Hopefully this review helps on their ascent to greatness!
8 out of 10
Label: Mascot Records
Genre: Southern Rock
For fans of: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Whiskey Myers, ZZ Top