It has been a little over a year since Texas Hippie Coalition released the album The Name Lives On. Put out back on April 21, 2023, it was heavy, loud, and full of fantastic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal grooves. Something that is still very fresh and present in listeners’ minds, now on October 4, 2024, Texas Hippie Coalition returns with their brand-new album Gunsmoke through MNRK Heavy.
Undeniably a very quick turnaround, it is important to know Texas Hippie Coalition has now been an established Rock-n-Roll band for twenty long years. In that time their sound has been consistent, but pushing the envelope in terms of going in a more Heavy Metal direction at points, as opposed to a more Southern Rock tones. With this in mind, it would be silly to put out an album identical to The Names Live On this soon, so instead the Hippie Coalition changed it up some.
As mentioned, at the root of a very Southern Heavy Rock band, it seems that Big Dad Ritch and company wanted to go back to the past a bit when crafting the mood of Gunsmoke. The band’s eighth overall studio album, the steady lineup of vocalist Big Dad Ritch, Lead Guitarist Cord Pool, Rhythm Guitarist Nevada Romo, Bassist Larado Romo, and Drummer Joey Mandigo team up for some deep south-drenched tunes. Switching it up even more, instead of working with the highly accomplished Bob Marlette (who has been at the helm in the studio over the last three albums), they turned to Trent Bell to handle production. Something to consider, the new approach is certainly a little less polished, and it offers a fresh take on the music, thus making the album standout.
With a total of ten songs, the album is full of grit and loudness, but it also has a bit of a melancholy undertone at times. Giving you a different vibe on each of the tunes, the opening of “Deadman” is a raw hard rocker, but do not let this be your marker as to what to expect for the remainder of Gunsmoke. In fact, you get some very interesting twists and turns; as heard with “She’s Like a Song,” the title-track, “Eat Crow,” and “I’m Getting High.” These being more straightforward Southern Rock storytellers, the diversity is highly complimentary to the more ruckus cuts like “Baptized in Mind,” the irresistible “Bones Jones,” as well as the party stomper “Droppin Bombs.”
Overall, Gunsmoke is a throwback to the early days of Texas Hippie Coalition, but with some flavor sprinkled in. It is an album you may have not expected, especially following the exceptional The Name Lives On, but it is well worth the time. So, go into this new collection with an open mind, because it has a lot of heartfelt, raw, memorable moments to offer. There is no question it is a bold move to release two full-length albums so close to one another, but when you find a way to keep them as separate entities like Texas Hippie Coalition does, it is very impressive. That is why Cryptic Rock recommends Gunsmoke, giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
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