The band has had a ton of lineup changes since their last album. Only two of the six members return for III, vocalist Dallas Taylor and bassist Roman Haviland. Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster feature a triple-guitar attack with Chad Huff, Kelly Scott Nunn and Jake Duncan.
III starts off with some banjos before cranking up the guitars. Maylene’s brand of metal/hard rock has a decidedly Southern flavor, lightly sprinkled in some places and doused liberally in others. It’s good time, up tempo music with plenty of groove and melody. The three guitarists work well together, blasting a wall of sound when needed, but also able to dial it back.
The songs are catchy, and the band varies things nicely. “Settling Scores By Burning Bridges” is fast and intense, with Taylor’s raspy vocals taken up a notch. The banjos return periodically on “Step Up (I’m On It),” which alternates twang and country fried metal. “Listen Up” is mainstream rock with big hooks and a memorable chorus.
Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster have dropped all ‘core elements that may have existed in the past, and are now a straight up southern metal/hard rock band. III is their best release to date.
(released June 23, 2009 on Ferret Music)
