THE SIGN OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS

Far be it from me to say that metal bands must continually reinvent the wheel. Derivation is generally not an issue — a good song is a good song and a good riff is a good riff, regardless of the influential reference points. It is only when an act pays tribute in either a soulless manner or in a way that is so blatant as to mask its own identity. The latter is the issue with Asheville, NC's THE SIGN OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, which is not an album paying homage to that epic piece of metal from BLACK SABBATH's "Mob Rules". Rather, the point of reference is PANTERA, especially when it comes to guitarist Seth Uldricks' Phil Anselmo impersonation.

In fairness, I'm sure the band has put its heart and soul into this album and I am certainly not implying anything less. The problem is that for as nasty, whiskey-drowned, and snarling as some of these songs may be, the fact of the matter is that the music is at best a second rate PANTERA, and not inclusive of the phenomenal Dimebag soloing at that. Tracks like "Appointed Reaper", "The South is Rising", or the harsh southern trend killing of "Hog Callin'" are full of metallic bluster and bad attitude, even occasionally offering some sizzling swagger, but at the end of the day are generally forgettable. Uldricks' Anselmo vocals are so dead-on, right down to the familiar patterns and inflection from the various PANTERA and, at times, DOWN albums, as to be almost embarrassing. Some of that may have to do with a mix that brings the vocals way up front at the expense of the riffing.

An occasional nod to CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (e.g. "Eating the Sun") and the aforementioned DOWN (e.g. parts of "Scry") is heard as well, which does little to nullify the issues brought up earlier. The swampy acoustic/lightness of "Weeping Willow" and southern soul burning of "Purge" and "Stitch in Time (To Save Nine)" actually show potential for identity refinement. For that matter, nothing is truly "bad" on "…Of Mountains and Moonshine", even with the vocal mimicry. It is simply that the songwriting doesn't often feel genuine and little of it is memorable enough to make the album much better than mediocre. Maybe next time.