Album review: THE DEAD SOUTH – Illusion & Doubt

DevilDuck Records [Release date 23.03.18]

Outlaws, modern hillbillies? The opening strains of ‘Boots’ does, indeed, bring Jed Clampett and his clan to mind. And regrettably, not Elly May.

No, more her half-witted half-brother Jethro, having a banjo/mandolin fuelled bluegrass hoedown with his pals under the influence of moonshine.

From Regina (where the f*** is Regina? The capital of Saskatchewan, Canada, apparently) the band born of grunge roots are the punk equivalent of a Canadian/French (the odd refrain of chanson gets added to the mix) bluegrass and country outfit.

Gritty, raw and packed with up-tempo songs about lovin’, killin’, cheatin’ and drinkin’, Illusion and Doubt – the follow up to the band’s debut Good Company (2015) - was released in late 2016, but is being given a release here in support if the band’s April 2018 UK tour.

The success of the band’s excellent 2016 video for ‘In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company’ (41 million YouTube views and climbing) signposts what you can expect and goes some way to explaining why many dates are already sold out, even if Illusion & Doubt doesn’t feature such an obvious ‘hit’. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

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Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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