Sex, drugs, and rock n roll! That sums up the debut album by the dirty southern-fried rockers Stone Rider. Vocalist Matt Tanner has the perfect gritty/raw tone that you look for in this style of music. Picture the Black Crowes meets Iggy Pop meets Jet (remember them?). Stonerider keeps the energy flowing from beginning to end. Their cover of "Hair of the Dog" is a little rough, but so many have covered it before them. It must come off killer live.

Overview: Sex changes can be fun, too. Just ask the Atlanta bred quartet StoneRider, who once went by the moniker Fight Paris. The former released their debut album, ‘Paradise Found‘, for Trustkill Records in 2005, an assortment of metalcore jolted into deep Southern overdrive. But, the boys got the feelin’ in their souls to venture down a new route creatively, and, with that, Fight Paris metamorphosized into StoneRider, jettisoning the pugnacious screams and rigid metalcore patterns for a more acid washed approach. Trustkill decided to hold on to these rascals, and will drop the first StoneRider album, ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ on January 29. The Good: Throw out your old Dance Mix USA tapes and Thighmaster VHS’s, because ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ is gonna make you sweat. Built upon with voluptuous grooves and glamorous riffing, StoneRider takes the Southern tinged rock we have all heard before and injects it with a little amphetamine, providing for a no frills and downright fun record from front to back. Leading the pack is “Rush Hour”, swift kicking the album shortly after pressing play and proves the intrepidity of the band. “Back From the Dead” could have been the perfect sing-a-long video for Dee Snider as a child, and although upbeat, the track still manages to retain a pinch of combativeness and a slew of raunchy lyrics. “Ramble Down” is a heavy dose of mature stoner rock, and “Juice Man” blossoms into a shamelessly sleazy affair that would leave patrons of retread biker bars salivating. “Wild Child” is brilliantly carefree and effervescent, tagging it as one of the most memorable tunes on the album, and “Bad Lovin’” is a punchy, frisky lil’ thang that will get you shaking that derriere in a jiffy. ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ pays its dues to stadium rock with the witty “Hair of the Dog” and hastily leaps on the funk train where the sultry “Bite My Tongue” steals the show. A succinct and ebullient romp, “Breakout” is just as the name implies, and ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ bids farewell with “shut My Mouth”, a grungy and soulful blast to the past that wraps everything up with a fitting bang. The most impressive part, be it intentional or not, about StoneRider’s debut is the fact that once the album begins rolling, the band never looks back, opting to float where the music takes them rather than trying to reconstruct what has already been accomplished. The Bad: Well folks, if you’re looking for a mature, intricate dose of Southern rock, look elsewhere. for StoneRider have a penchant for anchoring themselves in “bubble-gum” type glam rock; sure, they are proficient at their craft, but a few exploratory dalliances to tease the brain a weensy bit would have been welcomed. ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ is also one of anonymity, with each song sounding helplessly woven into the previous cut, which then segues into the next one, and the next one, and the next one. You can start the album and lose yourself in the music for awhile, and when you return to earth, you may still wonder if song one got stuck on repeat. StoneRider, although youthful and rejuvenating in their approach, don’t really tackle any new boundaries, and the ever-narrowing scope of gritty, engine revving glam rock seeping into the rock market puts a ceiling on a band with a plethora of potential. Bottomline: ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ might not justify your breaking out those pleather pants and spur-heeled boots buried in your closet, but the album will certainly be enough to get you through that handle of Jack with ease. StoneRider brings all their cards to the table with ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘, plowing the listener with enveloping slabs of retro-seared rock anthems and keeping the ignition running full throttle dawn to dusk. Consequently, the band paints themselves as a black sheep in the rock world, as the tunes are a little too provocative for basic modern rock, and a tad too cliche to propel StoneRider to status in the burgeoning southern/glam/sleaze rebirth of the past couple of years; for the every Buckcherry, Airbourne, and Endeverafter getting their airtime, there is a group like StoneRider, who, although have birthed a well-rounded album, may get unjustly swept under the rug in the wake of the aforementioned. Nevertheless, ‘Three Legs of Trouble‘ is a stern bolt of bootylicious material, that, despite not covering any new ground, re-paves the roads already traveled by bands of a similar ilk and inches the bar a little bit higher to boot.

Yet another great band from Georgia! What do they feed ‘em down there? Harder than the Georgia Satellites, more southern than the Black Crowes, and armed and ready to rival the next big thang in Blackberry Smoke, StoneRider really lock into an infectious groove and just hang there. “Rush Hour, Baby”, the opener and heaviest track on the plate, is simply stunning, and “Bad Lovin’ Never Felt So Good” and “Shut My Mouth” are even better. The songs are constructed around enormous riffs, choruses many bands would kill for, and Matt Tanner’s cool voice. There’s really nothing groundbreaking or original here, but so what? Every rock musician since Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis has borrowed from them – as they say imitation is the best form of flattery. To that end, StoneRider borrow from early AC/DC, the aforementioned Black Crowes “Lions” era, and even a bit of Nazareth, whose “Hair Of The Dog” is covered here. It appears that, finally, contemporary bands have not only embraced classic rock, but once again have made this sub-genre the norm – and for this I am eternally grateful!

After having released a terrible album under the name Fight Paris and after losing a singer, the rest of the band decided to rethink what they wanted to do. Out of that soulsearching came Stonerider and a new singer was found in the form of Matt Tanner. With "Three Legs Of Trouble" they have released every A&R manager's wet dream. Led Zep is hot again in case you didn't notice. AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd are a couple of other acts these guys are heavily influenced by. You guessed it. Stonerider likes to play riff-heavy Southern rock and they do a pretty banging job with nine songs of their own and a solid version of Nazareth's "Hair Of The Dog". They need to work a little more on their hooks to make the songs more memorable but brute force already works wonders for these guys. The Black Crowes might be aiming for a comeback but they've got some competition now in the from Stonerider.

CLASSIC INSPIRED ROCK: On "Rush Hour, Baby," the opening track on Stonerider's Trustkill Records debut, Three Legs of Trouble, vocalist Matt Tanner sings, "I'm in the mood for passing/ And not driving slow." And that sentiment sets the tone for the rest of the record. Three Legs of Trouble is classic inspired rock 'n' roll that finds great pleasure in being a soundtrack for doing donuts, driving 75 mph in a 40 zone, and tossing back a beer in 20 seconds. Right now, classic and Southern influenced rock is a sexy genre, and plenty of bands like to play noodly solos and sing about being reckless and rebellious are popping up in the underground metal scene. Sure, Stonerider is a hell of a lot of fun, but the band isn't quite as hot or as humorous as Every Time I Die, the ringleader of this style. But there's something to be said for being able to play your instruments and having respect for an era gone by, and Stonerider has plenty of that on Three Legs of Trouble. You can crank up the volume knob to "Ramble Down," "Juice Man," or "Wild Child" while cruising to the convenience store with your bros riding shotgun. Stonerider appears to like hard living, fast women, and having so much fun that it's practically criminal. And if you're young, those are certainly noble pursuits.

Oh the golden, rusty food triangle of Southern Rock has struck again, this time under a new guise known as StoneRider (or the formerly known Fight Paris). Ditching their edgier, dirtier hard rock work from Fight Paris, StoneRider find themselves adopting the styles of their heroes—Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Who better to enlist as producer in this old school release than the man who play keys for The Eagles, Bill Appleberry. Matt Tanner, vocalist/guitarist, has filled in the shoes of the vocal department almost to the key, leaving a nostalgic sense in any listeners ears. “Rush Hour, Baby” is only the beginning of this home style goodness. Three Legs Of Trouble is filled with catchy rock tunes that will last you for days. Songs like “Juice Man” and “Wild Child” really bring you back to what rock n roll once stood for: the dirtiness, the chicks, and the rock. If you were ever looking for that perfect CD to jam out to on your long drive home, it’s all here in Three Legs Of Trouble. The nostalgia is overwhelming, the raw power of the rock is superb, and needless to say StoneRider is bringing back a whole generation of music that has truly been missed by today’s youth. The only thing left to say is, “Mommy I’m growing a mullet!”

All in all, it would have to be said that 2007 was a pretty bad year overall for old-time rock-and-roll. Whether at the top of the food chain (Velvet Revolver) or within the pub-catering garage underworld (Josiah), this handful of bands and musicians dedicating their chops to partying like it’s twenty/thirty years ago just couldn’t get their hedonism and retro guitar tricks to gel from the right approach, no matter how hard they tried. Fortunately, 2008’s old school underbelly already looks like getting off to a promising start, and it’s largely due to one Atlantan quartet’s explosive debut. Throwing back to the glory days of both Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd, StoneRider presents a solid, energetic throwback to ‘70s posturing on Three Legs of Trouble. Boasting production that is gritty enough to convince, but crystal-clear at the same time, the band have ample potential to tap into the hard rock market (Trustkill’s signing of the band is, in itself, a very smart move on their part). Matt Tanner’s pinched vocals, while empty of an identity like Robert Plant’s, are a lot more technically accomplished than many of his peers, and ring with whiskey-drenched character, suiting his lyrical themes of choice—mostly fast cars, booze, and women—perfectly well. Plus, he doesn’t sing it like he’s delivering a bad joke. Take a look at some of the disc’s songs if you’re in doubt of their old-school devotion: “Rush Hour” opens the gates, more or less a summation of everything that StoneRider is about. A sputtering riff strangling itself over the neck of Neil Warren’s guitar kicks off, lifted straight out of Motorhead’s classic record Ace of Spades, loping along with a hard-tempo southern-flavored drive and DUI salutes to open highways. “Ramble Down” rides propulsively on the coattails of a Led Zeppelin groove a la “When the Levee Breaks”, rocksteady rhythms and a distorted cocktail from Warren, who really displays his flair here, setting up a harmonized, dirty blues chorus. Gloriously excessive is the best way to describe the sleazy cock-rock of “Juice Man”, with an almost beyond-belief refrain no doubt left over from the group’s bar-band days: “Hard times and fast women / I’ve got the juice man and I’m still living / On the top of the edge of the world”. On the other hand, “Wildchild” pounds but is, at heart, a nostalgic ditty sung about a long-lost old girl he went out stealing Dad’s car with back when they were 17 (how old are the band anyway? 22 maybe?), bestially yelping in the chorus “Yeah she’s a WILDCHILD!” And then in Nazareth’s “Hair of the Dog”, he lets us know that we’re “messing with a son-of-a-bitch”, set to yet another fantastic classic rock riff. Three Legs of Trouble is almost to rock in 2008 what Appetite to Destruction was back in 1988, and definitely the same sort of album: relentlessly catchy, punchy and revitalizing. It’s a record that languishes in a head-tapping, feel-good kind of way, with a guitar run through so much wah-wah pedal it sounds like a ravenous hyena. It’s not much more than a rollicking batch of songs, a spirited kick back to old-fashioned rock-and-roll, and there’s no good pretending it is. But the most important reason for StoneRider’s success is that they know how to involve their audience in their revelry. You have to assume that when Tanner talks of being “back from the dead” on the track with the same name, he’s speaking for the retro-rock trend on the whole. In which case, keep it up—just so long as your noise-making will back you up as reliably as this! Forward thinking is all well and good, but everyone needs to get in touch with their roots from time to time, so don’t be a purist and check this out. You might be surprised how much fun you have.

4 Stars: Riders on the Seventies storm hit gold with ballsy retro rock and roll. Opening with a feisty squall of white hot guitar that builds into an ascending riff Motley Crue would have coveted if they’d been more into denim, grease and beer than vinyl, coke and hairspray, Atlanta’s StoneRider (formerly Fight Paris) make their intentions clear early – this is big, dumb and ballsy retro rock, heavy on the classic southern vibe with a sleazy stoner slant that aims for the midpoint between Lynyrd Skynrd and AC/DC, but at times comes off closed in spirit to Reef than the Black Crowes. With raw vocals, warm production and a heavy handed rhythm section plugging the gaps behind the mountains of wah-powered guitar, about that only low point is the cover of Nazareth’s “Hair Of The Dog” which follows the cowbell-laden musical template convincingly, only to be let down by dull, flat karaoke-styled vocals.

While rock elements are nothing new for a band on Trustkill, StoneRider is a full fledged rock n roll band. With swagger to spare, bluesy guitar runs and a solid vocal performance the band rolls through 10 songs of rock goodness. This isnt what you would expect from Trustkill but they certainly made the right choice to release this album. The riffing has a very 70's feel to it. They take a little bit from Page a little bit from Hendrix and even a bit from vintage Aerosmith. Basically learning from the masters and bringing it to a modern context. There are numerous bands trying to bring in a vintage vibe and few are this successful. This isn't what you would consider original yet the band certainly has a lot to offer. The riffs are infectious as are the vocal lines. While it isn't hard to trace the influences this comes across more like an homage than plagiarism. Although you might not even notice from the sound of the band, but StoneRider is made up of four members of the now defunct Fight Paris. Fight Paris certainly had a rock streak but had a much more modern feel while StoneRider is much more vintage sounding. If you liked Fight Paris you may indeed enjoy this, just dont expect this to sound like Fight Paris the sequel. Typically I find vintage styled rock to be cheesy and unnecessary, but I definitely dig what the band is doing on this album. If you are a fan of 70s styled rock youll definitely want to this one a listen.

ANY band that covers Nazareth’s ‘Hair Of The Dog’ with such aplomb have got to be worth something, and this youthful Atlanta quartet seem to be just that if this, their debut album, is to be believed. Comparisons with Kentucky’s Black Stone Cherry seem inevitable, not least because of the similarities in sepia-tinted album sleeves and the classic rock styles on both debuts. Bristling with a youthful vigour and packed to the hilt with quality tunes, StoneRider evoke the memories of those who have clearly swayed their young heads, from AC/DC’s primal attack to the more classy strains of Zepplin. They pull off the likes of ‘Rush Hour, Baby’, ‘Ramble Down’ and ‘Bad Lovin’ Never Felt So Good’ with a style that leaves little room for doubt that the 70’s was the perfect decade to seek you hard rock inspiration.

Dirty denim and slick, old school rockin grooves make sure StoneRider stand out on the Trustkill roster. Bursting with songs about cars, chicks and partying their debut could just be the record that bridges the generation gap, opening up a whole new world of smooth, lick-laden classic rock to those who’d previously had no entry point to it. The highly infectious “Ramble Down” boils over with ass-shaking guitars, while open shirt, sunshine rock of “Wild Child,” “Juice Man” and “Rush Hour Baby” scream for the summer, cold beers and excessive partying. The perfect antidote for those wintertime blues, this vintage remedy might just be the kick you need.

In 2004 a review copy of Silver tide's Show and Tell arrived on my desk to review. I fell in love with the band's no frills, retro, hard driving approach to music. The strength of that album landed Silvertide the opening spot on two high profile tours the first with Van Halen the next with Motley Crue. Sadly, we haven't heard much from them since. So what does that have to do with Stonerider you ask? Well, fast forward three years and their album Three Legs of Trouble is handed off to me for review and the result is eerily similar to my first experience with Silvertide. The ATL's very own Stonerider deliver a southern fried, classic 70's sound with the fun of 80's excess crossed with you guessed it, their Georgia brethren The Black Crowes. Stonerider's influences are clear, the swagger of the Rolling Stones, the crushing rhythms and power chords of classic AC/DC merged with the twang of Skynyrd. Three Legs of Trouble kicks off with a couple tracks could be considered nearing filler territory, but by the time you get to "Ramble Down" it's all gravy as the kick it into high gear and never look back. Stonerider tackle Nazareth's classic rock radio staple "Hair of the Dog," the band puts their own touch to the track; they have slowed down, rearranged the chorus and dropped the wah-wah section and the end result is an edgier, fresh outlook on a timeless classic. I'll go out on a limb right now and say that this officially the first album to make my top 10 for 2008, watch for Three Legs of Trouble to drop at the end of January 2008. Trustkill Records home of heavy weights Throwdown and Walls of Jericho have a winner in Stonerider and I have no doubt they'll land a opening spot for a major tour with ease.

If you like rock'n'roll, you'll like Stonerider. It's as easy as that. In a time where the scene has become all about metal riffs, hardcore breakdowns and insane screaming, there's simply no way their debut album "Three Legs Of Trouble" won't stand out with it's attempt at reviving everything that was cool about the good old days of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC. From the first lick of opener "Rush hour, baby" I'm thinking "Why is this not on Guitar Hero?!" and that feeling persist throughout the entire album. Every single riff simply goes straight to your balls and makes you grab for your air (or plastic) guitar, and the solo of that first song is badass and bluesy as to make Jimmy Page proud and Slash lift his eyebrows. Matt Tanner's vocals remind me of the Jet one hit wonder "Are You Gonna Be My Girl". It is his attitude that makes this album go up to Wolfmother, slap them on their faces, calling them a band of poppy wimps. On these merits "Tree Legs Of Trouble" is already a good album on its own, and one that will certainly keep you brandishing that imaginary (or plastic) instrument of yours for a good long while, and even after that, you'll still be occupied trying to keep track of all the references to Hendrix and Aerosmith and God knows who else has been on the minds of these guys when they wrote the songs. With all this being said, there are however also drawbacks to the cd, mainly in the way that despite paying tribute to the whole fried and whiskey drenched hard rock style, the way it's being done is a little bit too clean cut in terms of the formula. The whole sound is based on being ragged and drunken and dusty and yet the structure is tighter than a lawyers ass. There's one distinct formula to the sound and the band doesn't stray from it for a second, and it's hard not to doubt that if they really were as rock'n'roll as they're trying to sound, wouldn't they then cut loose some more and make more of a mess of things? In any case "Three Legs Of Trouble" is highly enjoyable even if under the disguise it is a bit too polished and radio friendly. [7] For the fans of: Wolfmother, Jet, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC

STONERIDER hail from Atlanta, USA and 'Three Legs of Trouble' is their debut album and is the sort of retro rock that even your dad would approve of. There's a nice groove, somewhere between THE ANSWER and BLACK STONE CHERRY. This type of retro rock seems to becoming popular again and STONERIDER will be looking to ride the crest of this wave, along with the likes of AIRBOURNE. In order to appeal to the wider audience, infectious choruses need to accompain those oh so groovy melodies. 'Back From The Dead' boasts excatly that, and 'Wild Child' has the kind of chorus that's sure to stick in your head - although it's nowhere near as good as the W.A.S.P. classic of the same name. There's also leeway for the headbangers to let loose as the foot-tapping 'Juice Man' kicks in. STONERIDER pay tribute to one of their influences with a cover of the NAZARETH classic 'Hair of The Dog', but as this one's already been covered by GUNS 'N ROSES and WARRANT, it would have been nice to hear them have a crack at something else. 'Three Legs of Trouble' is a pleasant listen, and fans of classic rock will certainly enjoy giving this one a spin. For me, the album does lack a standout track or two, but in terms of consitency, nobody can argue this is a solid album from start to finish. With this release, STONERIDER have shown great promise and in 2008, it will be nice to see them also prove themselves on the UK live scene.

STONERIDER - THREE LEGS OF TROUBLE: THE BEST TEN SONGS IZZY STRADLIN NEVER WROTE If Izzy Stradlin had quit Guns N’ Roses directly after Appetite for Destruction, formed his own band and released an album of songs that sound like “Dust N’ Bones,” you might end up with something like what StoneRider have accomplished on Three Legs of Trouble. Three Legs of Trouble’s ten mid-tempo songs of 3-4 minute Southern blues-rock slabs injected with a sleaze-rock, scarves-bandanas-and-vests sensibility would make Stradlin proud. With names like Neil “Staxxx” Warren and Champ Champagne and lyrics like “Hard Times, Fast Livin’, I got the Juice Man, Yeah I’m still livin’,” — the sleaze element forces itself into their otherwise straight Southern approach. And for the most part they’re damn good at it, though no one song on Three Legs of Trouble is a bonafide hit or anthem. Tasty blues licks constantly percolate under Matthew Tanner’s smoky vocals as the band drives ahead in 4/4 with their Les Pauls plugged into their cranked-to-11 Marshalls. Apparently these same band members used to comprise the still-Southern-but-more-metallicized Fight Paris, but the fact that they’ve included a cover of Nazareth’s “Hair of the Dog” this time around should give you a better idea of where the band members’ heads are at now. They should stick with it; it suits them quite well, and Three Legs of Trouble is a damn decent Rock N’ Roll record.

Car engines are roaring in the distance like uncivilized lions. A grey sky casts over the open road, everything dead and lifeless. The windows are down and the wind rushes by, making a howling sound to impress the lonesome wanders. My left hand sticks out of window, straight as the barrel of the shotgun nestled safely in the backseat. I feel bugs splattering against my hand, the guts leaving a gooey layer on the inside of my palm. The dusty road sends particles up in the air, creating a grimy haze of desolation. The sound of boorish lions grows louder as a little wooden shack approaches on the right side of the road. Outside in the parking lot, trucks are calm, bikes are impatient, and everything lifeless from this desolated strip of nothing comes back from the dead. Engine turned off and my muddy shoes start walking towards the shack with the sound of hell bursting through the windows in the form of the dirtiest southern rock you’ve ever heard. StoneRider emerged from the ashes of Fight Paris, a band that was fast paced and sounded like a cheap imitation of everything else. “Three Legs of Trouble” is the debut album from a southern rock band that will paint more vivid images in your head than Da Vinci’s illustrated notebook. Ten songs filled with pure southern rock, with more authenticity than that Versace purse you bought your girlfriend on the streets of New York City. The record will transfix you, transform you into an alter ego that rides around in muscle car and goes to shady looking shacks in the middle of no where. If you gave up drinking years ago because you were a ruthless alcoholic, well this record will bring back hallucinations of your better days. You’ll feel a rushing sensation in your veins for that cold beer, that bottle gripped between your fingers as you stumble between every busty girl in the bar. If you’ve never broken a law because you were taught to whole-heartedly respect law enforcement, well this record is going to make you shoot out the windows of your annoying coworker with the shotgun you just illegal bought in a back alley. “Three Legs of Trouble” is filled with catchy guitar riffs and vocals that are memorizing your vocal chords to guzzle down a beer and sing along. The lyrics aren’t going to change your life, but they will make you forget about all those unnecessary problems you stress about constantly, whining away to anyone that is willing to listen. The record is finishing up, the last track is almost over and my nose is bleeding from the punch some coward sent over. A brunette with a wedding ring is on my left side, rubbing my back while she takes shots of vodka from the bar. A blond with enough cleavage to excite the trousers of every middle schooler in a five-mile radius has her hand in my back pocket. They step inside of my car, laughing and mumbling to each other as I pull the shotgun out of the backseat. An overweight woman with a mullet is drinking beer on the outside of the shack, leaning against the wall. I snatch the beer out of her manly hands, guzzle it down, and feel the cold brew running down my throat. I load two shells into the shotgun and smash open the doors of the bar, looking for the son of a bitch that made me bleed my own blood.

In 2004, a review copy of Silvertide’s Show and Tell arrived on my desk to review. I fell in love with the band’s no frills, retro, hard-driving approach to music. The strength of that album landed Silvertide the opening spot on two high profile tours. The first with Van Halen and the next with Motley Crue. Sadly, we haven’t heard much from them since. So what does that have to do with Stonerider you ask? Well, fast forward three years and their album Three Legs of Trouble is handed off to me for review and the result is eerily similar to my first experience with Silvertide. The ATL’s very own Stonerider deliver a southern fried, classic 70’s sound with the fun of 80’s excess crossed with, you guessed it, their Georgia brethren The Black Crowes. Stonerider’s influences are clear: the swagger of the Rolling Stones, and the crushing rhythms and power chords of classic AC/DC merged with the twang of Skynyrd. Three Legs of Trouble kicks off with a couple of tracks that could be considered filler territory, but by the time you get to “Ramble Down,” it’s all gravy as they kick it into high gear and never look back. Stonerider tackle Nazareth’s classic rock radio staple “Hair of the Dog” and put their own touch to the track. They have slowed it down, rearranged the chorus, and dropped the wah-wah section, and the end result is an edgier, fresh outlook on a timeless classic. I'll go out on a limb right now and say that this is officially the first album to make my top 10 for 2008. Watch for Three Legs of Trouble to drop at the end of January 2008. Trustkill Records, home of heavyweights Throwdown and Walls of Jericho, have a winner in Stonerider, and I have no doubt they’ll land an opening spot for a major tour with ease.

If Axl Rose were a smarter man, he would buy out the guys of Stonerider, take its sort-of debut album, Three Legs of Trouble, and rename it Chinese Democracy. It is a sort-of debut album because Stonerider used to be called Fight Paris. It isn't really a new band, because it is all the same members, with the same label -- just a slightly new sound. Stonerider takes all the southern rock roots that its sort-of predecessor had and injects it completely through. If the name Stonerider wasn't about to clue you into what you're getting into, then maybe song titles like "Rush Hour, Baby" and "Bad Lovin Never Felt so Good" will - vicious guitar licks, grandiose rock riffs, vocals with that natural Atlanta southern twang (lets not forget about the occasional cowbell). The rock is massive, and the record lives, breathes, and sounds of the South. Including a cover of the classic Nazareth song, "Hair of the Dog," Stonerider brings a fresh sound, yet a very comforting nostalgic feel to the realm of rock n' roll. This is the anthem of the local dingy and smoky bar that you waste most of your life at playing pool and drinking beer. With Wolfmother hitting it big last year, there is nothing to suggest that Stonerider can't either, except for the limitations of being on a predominately hardcore/metalcore label Trustkill Records. This is unfortunate because there seems to be a good chance that Stonerider will fall victim to a 'guilty by association' with its fellow labelmates. People that are too short-sighted to give it a chance will be missing out on just some classic southern rock -- one of the few genres that appeals to anyone and everyone. But like good southern rock, Three Legs of Trouble is just accessible enough to kick you in the ass with a boot full of attitude and somehow still make it fun to listen to.

Trustkill Records presents a new act called StoneRider, who brings their debut in January of 2008 entitled Three Legs Of Trouble. This album is full of pure hearted southern rock n roll roots and flashy guitar licks. So if you ever have thrown back a brew to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix or AC/DC or lit a spliff chilling out to Lynyrd Skynyrd or even Pink Floyd, you will love this group. They crafted their debut album with producer Bill Appleberry (Operator/Wallflowers), who spends time playing keys for Joe Walsh (The Eagles) and had a blast getting the guys drunk while making the album. The album was written collaboratively, with the four former members of Southern rock band Fight Paris -- Tanner, Warren, drummer Jason Krutzky and bass player Champ Champagne - sitting in a room together jamming and working off of each other. Whereas Fight Paris was fast and thrashy, StoneRider slows things down a bit and lets the songs groove, even dabbling with mid-tempo ballads. Think beer, wah pedals, and a classic rock coming back to life with pure soul rock. This is pedal to the metal classic rock. An almost Buckcherry resemblance comes to mind as the music is straightforward and hard hitting but not in a heavy way that we are used to. Guitar solos come back to replace that vocal bridge of todays music. Yes. Guitar leads. We have missed those for so long and many bands nowadays cant even pull off a solid lead to carry the song. This is one talented group of musicians. This 10 song album will be a classic bar rocking album. If you don`t hear this album tearing up the jukebox in the new year then your not at the right bar. Opening the album is Rush Hour, Baby which features the classic sound was explaining before. Guitar, Guitar, Guitar. Back From The Dead is the Jet-like sounding song on the record. The vocal delivery of his sound reminds the most of the singer from Jet. In The middle of the record you will hear the cover of Hair Of The Dog. A very well cover of the songs and a new life brought into the old classic. Shut My Mouth could be straight out of the 70`s. The guitar licks and tones are a pure reminder of the pure innocence of those fun rocking bands that we tend to lose now with all the trends and hair dye that are eating up all the airtime. No emo hair in your face in this record, just pure classic guitar licking rock! The riffs carry most of the songs giving them that flow and head bob from the very first listen. The production on the record is a very important feature to the album as well. It has the clarity and the boom of newly produced records but still displaying the classic tones and vibe the band has to offer. It`s all there in the music: the hopes, the dreams, the dreaming, the women, the song. And now, after their long journey, the four Atlantans are hungry to get back on the road and show their new face to the world, teaching the lessons of Page/Plant and Scott/Young everywhere they go, partying, having a good time, and showing the world their Southern hospitality.

I have a weakness for good southern rock in general, but about once every decade or so a really, really good one comes along that releases something you can’t get out of your head or off of the player. This decade’s band might be StoneRider, a kick ass quartet out of Atlanta that rises from the ashes of Fight Paris. Three Legs of Trouble is StoneRider’s debut CD, and is just the thing to kick off the dust of a late night that was far too short for an early morning. Faintly reminiscent here and there of Guns n’ Roses (Rush Hour, Baby), Black Crowes (Back From The Dead), Lenny Kravitz living up to his potential (Ramble Down), AC/DC (Juice Man, Wild Child) and, well, Nazareth (a more than competent cover of “Hair of the Dog”), Three Legs of Trouble has the requisite swagger, sweat, and balls that makes hard rock in general and southern rock in particular great. Full of swagger and power chords delivered with authority, and lyrics full of sexual desire, yet with occasional and brief surprises thrown in just so you know that this wasn’t a project slopped together in an afternoon on someone else’s dollar. I haven’t had this bad boy out of the player since I slipped it in a few days ago, and it just gets harder with every day to pick a favorite. Right now it’s down to Wild Child or Juice Man, with “Hair of the Dog” always lurking around there somewhere. Or maybe it’s Ramble Down, with its killer guitar solo and vocalist Matt Tanner doing his best Jim Dandy. Tanner, the guitarist and lead vocalist for StoneRider, actually knows how to sing, and he’s got the bravado to carry the boisterous lyrics off. These guys have got to be great live --- I’m half-tempted to make the eight hour drive to Atlanta to watch them do their thing --- and once Three Legs of Trouble gets out there I’m sure the world will get its chance to hear and see them get the job done. This is a disc, and a band, that should not be missed.

You may remember a Southern rock band called Fight Paris, whose debut album was released on Trustkill Records in 2005. If you're wondering whatever happened to Fight Paris you will definitely want to look for 'Three Legs of Trouble', the debut album from Stonerider, out on Trustkill Records this Jan. Stonerider is essentially Fight Paris' new name but the music is fundamentally different enough where Stonerider can be considered a whole new band. Bill Appleberry, who produced albums for Operator and The Wallflowers, and plays keyboards for Joe Walsh, produced 'Three Legs of Trouble' and it is a fireball of raw stoner rock blues. The album was written with all four members jamming together and it is evident from the organic rock n' roll sound. Songs like 'Wild Child' are heavily reminiscent of AC/DC in its heyday. With catchy guitar riffage, heavy base, glam rock style vocals, and blatant sexual innuendo Stonerider definitely delivers a catchy straight up rock n' roll hit with 'Wild Child'. Same with 'Rush Hour Baby' and, most of the songs on 'Three Legs of Trouble'. Stonerider admits to being influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin but there is a noticeable 80's rock influence from bands like L.A. Guns, and Ratt in there as well. Stonerider's sound has been called Modern Classic Rock and this is really the most accurate way to describe it. There would be no hardcore or metal, or metal core or whatever, with out the raunchy blues rock of bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. Stonerider has tapped into that deep seeded love we all have for the roots of rock and created something entirely new out of it.

Southern rock bands take pride in greasy, chicken-fried riffage, and StoneRider can serve it up with the best of 'em. But these four Hottlantans add heft to their recipe with a heavy-hitting rhythm section that goes for the gut instead of the groove. For those about to rock, we salute y'all.

At first glance, Stonerider look like the kind of toned-down, artfully retro Zeppelin wannabes that throng the internet these days, but even the most cursory examination of this, their debut album, should convince you that these four Atlantans are in a class apart. The art of the rather strangely-monikered “Three Legs of Trouble” is that even on the first listen it sounds like an album you’ve always known, like something you dug out from your dad’s garage, at once fresh and classic. Opening track “Rush Hour, Baby” is an instant blues-rock classic that sounds like something you’d find in AC/DC’s back catalogue, smartly accessorised with dirty, crunchy riffs, that have the baroque bite of an original. Stonerider sound like they’ve been in hibernation since the days when rock was real and Pop Idol just a musician’s futuristic nightmare. Even the titles of the songs reflect this vintage feel – there really is one called “Bad Lovin’ Never Felt So Good”. What’s more, it’s every bit as good as you’d expect. This is no tragically watered-down pseudo-rock for the kind of wankers who wear artificially-aged T-shirts. It’s heady stuff.

While hardcore, metal and punk have dominated the block over the past couple of years, it seems like natural rock n’ roll has been stranded at some scummy, rundown bus stop. But now, it seems like Stonerider is trying to renovate the genre. The Atlanta, GA-bred quartet combines pure Southern rock with vintage grooves and metal riffs on their barhopping debut. With the revived backdrop in motion, Stonerider churns out a variety of boot knockin’ compositions like “Ramble Down” and Rush Hour.” The longhaired enthusiasts continue to heavily promote their sexual swagger throughout the effort, but their ladies’ anthem “Wild Child” could replace Buckcherry’s “Crazy Bitch” if it were to ever lose its flavor – which it probably won’t. Though the music and constant forays into the nightlife atmosphere aren’t anything innovative, Three Legs Of Trouble is a compelling throwback to the heyday of rock n’ roll with modern finesse.

What's this? A look into the music of 2008? Well it seems that my first review from the music of the new year will come from the Atlanta's Stonerider. Their new album, "Three Legs Of Trouble," is being called "balls-out southern rock & roll," to which I ask is that a good thing? Especially when their label is known for harder acts. I'm not sure of anything at this point so let's take this first step into the new year in stride. With a style that sounds like it jumped right out of Guitar Hero or a WWE main event, Stonerider defiantly brings the southern vibe with its rock anthems. Fans of bands such as Wolf Mother will simply go nuts for this consistent cliché rock album filled with flavorful guitar rollercoasters and accented vocals that sound like they were born and bred from the dirty south. Now, is this a weird move on the part of Trustkill? Very. Stonerider can rock out with the best out there but compared to the rest of TK's line up, their Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC background seems a bit out of place. Catchy hooks and riffs fill every part of this album and make it hard to speak ill against however, which is a good thing because you will find yourselves warming up to the non-stop jamming if at first you were cautious. Is "Three Legs Of Trouble" a remarkable album? Well let me put it this way. It keeps me entertained with its riffing fretwork and signature twangy southern attitude. It doesn't do anything wrong but it does feel a bit too similar to other bands out now. Does that mean that Stonerider isn't going to make it? Oh hell no! If anything this album will get huge amounts of attention from awaiting rock listeners as well as weed filled Pink Floyd fans alike.

Three Legs of Trouble is the debut release from StoneRider, but some of you might have heard these guys before. They were called Fight Paris and, in 2005 they released an album, Paradise, Found, and toured the United States. Same label, same four dudes, only now they have fully embraced the retro, Southern rock stylings they flirted with under their old name. Even if the sound hadn’t changed, let’s face it: StoneRider is a lot more badass of a name than Fight Paris. They’ve backed up the name with one grooving batch of tunes. Song titles like “Ramble Down,” “Wild Child” and “Bad Lovin’ Never Felt So Good” should tell you right away what you’re getting into, and these guys don’t let you down. “Hair of the Dog” is a cover of the classic Nazareth song, and its unforgettable riff is right at home among StoneRider’s huge hooks. The stars are guitarists Neil “Staxxx” Warren and Matt Tanner, who has improved his vocals by adding what sounds like a slight touch of the Axl Rose croak to his Southern twang, while drummer Jason Krutzky and bassist Champ Champagne hold it all together. Every song on Three Legs of Trouble sounds like something you would hear at full volume at your local watering hole on a Saturday night. It’s overflowing with an infectious, good-time, rock n’ roll vibe. With the right breaks, this album could be everywhere—and it should be because it deserves to be heard. If Wolfmother can have success on rock radio, StoneRider should be huge.

As we begin to near the last weeks of December, the first of 2008’s releases are starting to come in for our review considerations here at Cosmos Gaming. The first 2008 release for traditionally hardcore focused Trustkill Records is Stonerider’s Three Legs of Trouble, a band featuring former members of Fight Paris and a sound that is a far cry from everything else on the label. The result is one of 2008’s first albums to be excited about, and an interesting new direction for this traditionally hardcore centric record label. Stonerider’s music is a cross between hard hitting southern rock, sleaze rock, and a hint of Jimi Hendrix esque guitar riffs. Though there’s a distinctive southern vibe to all of the riffs, one could also compare Stonerider to Wolfmother as their classic rock influences feel extremely similar at times. Three Legs of Trouble may be just a tad bit too short coming in at only 10 songs, but each track has addictive guitar riffs and a hell of a lot of energy. The members of this band may have previously been involved in the hardcore scene, but they’ve definitely shown that they have a propensity for southern rock. Vocalist Matt Tanner fits the style of Stonerider perfectly. His voice has the right mix of melody and rawness, combined with a slight sleaze factor (a la Buckcherry). It’s great to see that Trustkill Records is starting to sign bands with a focus on singing, as Stonerider’s raw and edgy rock is extremely enjoyable. They’ve got the rebellious lyrics one would expect, and combined with some seriously catchy instrumentals that is a great thing. Three Legs of Trouble may be releasing at the end of January, but I have a feeling this will still be one of Trustkill’s most noteworthy bands come much later in 2008. Stonerider may be a bit different in style from the other groups on the label, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting. Anyone looking for some decent rock with a hint of classic and southern styles to it will definitely want to check this one out. If this is the type of band Trustkill is going to be branching out with in addition to their usual hardcore, then they definitely have my full support.

Atlanta, Georgia is home to a lot of great musicians, not to mention the fact that it's basically the New York of the southeast. So it makes sense that a band like StoneRider would come out of this mecca of the dirty south. After rising from the ashes of the former Trustkill Records band Fight Paris, StoneRider decided to throw in the towel on hardcore and make a move to revisit some former all American glory, 70's muscle car rock. Oh yes, I said it. We're talking strap on your jean jacket vest, grab your cowboy boots, hop in your firebird and just tear up everything in sight. There's no getting around it, StoneRider is gonna rock you to your soul. The album kicks off with "Rush Hour, Baby" and from the get go you have some thick fuzz effects on the guitar, enough wah wah pedal to please any rock guitar guru, and smooth rhythms that would make Lynyrd Skynyrd blush. Three Legs of Trouble is a high energy, balls to the wall rock n roll record with lyrics that just sing out loud about fast cars, fast women, being drunk and dirty. From all indications, StoneRider seems to have hopped out of a time machine from the late 70s, early 80s, as the band defies all generational age barriers. It's a record that you could easily expect your father to steal from you and catch him listening to it while hard at work in the garage or desperately trying to relive his youth. From my 42 year old boss to my 22 year old coworker, everyone I've played StoneRider for has fallen in love with them, saying "these guys are going to be huge!" and I have to agree with them. If Trustkill manages to hold on to StoneRider for more than this one record, I'll be surprised. As far as musical comparisons go, I've heard everything from AC/DC to a southern version of Jet to Buckcherry and many, many more. But let's get logical here, what you're getting yourself into with this record is ten solid jams, including but not limited to one of the greatest covers of all time, "Hair of the Dog" by Nazareth. It's not often that we find bands that are willing to break out some Nazareth, but when they do, it's oh so good.