Alabama Thunderpussy

Too many bands fall into the trap of regurgitating boring Black Sabbath riffs. Sabbath — and descendents such as Corrosion of Conformity — did something with sludge. And it was called innovation. For what it’s worth, Alabama Thunderpussy sincerely tries to avoid clichés even as it works unabashedly within them, hardly an easy balance to strike. The band members may feel confined by their stoner-sludge-Southern-metal classification, but it’s not like the shoe doesn’t fit. What those labels won’t tell you is how the band’s latest album, Fulton Hill, throws curveballs from the first note. Individually, the new songs are deceptive at first. Fulton Hill really comes alive only as a whole. It doesn’t hurt that the band is earnest and emotional about its work, or that new vocalist Johnny Weills does a fine job of conveying different moods. In other words, this isn’t music solely for bong hits — though it works for that, too.