HardReviews 5
by Martin Popoff

CRANK COUNTY DAREDEVILS
Livin' In The Red (Bad Reputation)

Sleaze metal from Ashville, North Carolina sure, but despite the rough and roughly inked GN'R look to the guys (er, maybe worse... go with Tracii Guns), this is pretty close to other incendiary beard-pullin' music from the region, or indeed Dirty Rig, but better. Vocalist Scotty P has got Kory cornered in terms of raw expulsion of emotion, so much so, that he's almost punk in his rabid delivery, while guitarist Adam Stevens is front, sludgy and centre with his gleefully stodgy groove metal riffs, the bass hog-tied to his patterns and simply thickening them. Fact is, this is a blast on record and likely a life-changing gig live, Crank County Daredevils churning a burlap sack full of electricity sorta like a boozed-up Buckcherry without any of the trendiness or major label hope and attendant annoying aspiration.
Rating 7.5