It is safe to say that Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet are the last of the Mohicans in the southern rock genre. Yet, I had my doubts about Molly Hatchet as their last studio-recording ‘Justice’ was released in 2010 while in 2019 the live-CD ‘Battleground’ saw the light of day, featuring their new singer Jimmy Elkins (who replaced the deceased Phil McCormack) who did not last long. Elkins had a bad motor-cycle accident and had to leave the group to be replaced by current singer Parker Lee. In 2023 the band released the single “Firing Line”. After that there was radio silence once again.
Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida the band started out in the early seventies and had with their first three to four albums a lot of success, also because of a murdering touring schedule. Their albums charted in several countries but after a while original singer Danny Joe Brown had to leave because of health issues. His replacement Jimmy Farrar steered the band away from their southern rock roots and after a few albums was replaced by a returning Danny Joe Brown. Have a look on Wikipedia to read all about this band that has suffered a mortality rate that is second to none (although LynyrdSkynyrd lost even more musicians). All six original members have passed away during the years and several of their replacements as well. Not one of them reached the age of seventy years old…
CURRENT LINE-UP
Guitarist Bobby Ingram has been at the helm of this outfit since the late eighties and is also owner of the name Molly Hatchet. Keyboardist John Galvin has also been there for a very long time as has bass-player Tim Lindsey. Drummer Garratt Ramsden joined in 2023 as did Parker Lee. These lads now hold up the Molly Hatchet banner.
For Bobby Ingram a dream came true when their record company gave them the chance to record ‘Lost Horizon’ in the famous Abbey Road studio in London, Engeland. Yes, that place where a band named The Beatles recorded the bulk of their legendary music.
For the twelve songs that are featured on this record Molly Hatchet chose to work according to their tradition. It is a typical Molly Hatchet record filled with good old fashioned southern rock. Ingram and his boys have played things on safe and in a way I can understand why. They have not released anything major in sixteen years, so to present some familiar material that reminds the fans of their old and vintage albums is quite logical. Not very adventurous but understandable.
ALL THRILLERS, NO FILLERS?
Molly Hatchet always had singers with a rough and gritty voice. Danny Joe Brown was by far the best with Phil McCormack coming second. Parker Lee is according to Ingram sounding like a young Danny Joe Brown. I hear some of Danny Joe Brown’s characteristics back in Lee’s voice but does he have the same impact as Brown? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. On heavy rockers such as ”Firing Line” and ”Once A Gambler” mister Lee stands his ground while there are also two typical (epic) tracks like “Coming Home” and the title-trackwhere he does well. Those mentioned songs have all the usual ingredients from the old days: Galvin who shines on piano and Ingram shooting riffs and solos from the hip as if there is no tomorrow. Those songs really bring back that old feeling from the seventies, eighties, and nineties. They are the thrillers on the album. But tracks such as “Moonshine All Mine” and “Helter Skelter’’ are just simple fillers where Parker Lee shows a lack of imagination in his vocal lines. The tearjerker ‘’The Answer’’ is with his monotonous singing a track that is by far the worst Molly Hatchet ever recorded. It is not a filler, it is a complete failure.
MIXED FEELINGS
‘Lost Horizon’ leaves me with mixed feelings. The bulk of the album is definitely worth while hearing but there are too many moments that are doubtful. I suppose that a fan of the southern rock genre will be happy with the latest sign of life of these veterans and I am happy with that as well. But let us be honest here: the level of the old days is not being matched as far as I am concerned. Sometimes the band comes close but not close enough.
Report by Michel van de Moosdijk
