6. Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster II (2007)

What it is: Hard, raspy, southern rock
Favorite Track: Darkest Of Kin

As much as I like Dallas Taylor-era Underoath, him leaving that band and forming Maylene is one of the best things he ever did. Not only did it allow Spencer Chamberlain, a much more suitable vocalist, to take over in Underoath, but it allowed him to perform the music that he was destined to play. And that is southern metal.

Maylene don't try to dazzle you with their technical skill (though there is plenty of that to be found here), they rock your socks off and tell interesting stories while doing it. In 2007, the band recorded II, a kickass album with less filler and a better sense of direction than their debut.

The album begins with the familiar southern riffs and raspy vocals you're used to hearing from the boys, and BAM! Adrenaline rush. Whispering, brief breakdowns, guitar solos any classic rock fan would approve of, everyone yelling at the top of their lungs. This is the Maylene we love, back and cramming more into their music than ever. Memories Of The Grove is an ideal opener for anyone who enjoyed the debut and new fans.

The more melodic side of Maylene is introduced with the lead single, Dry The River. This was the first Maylene song I heard, and I still rank it among their best songs. It has a catchy chorus, an excellent lead riff, and thunderous instrumentation.

As the album progresses, dozens of memorable riffs, duel guitars, choruses, and fist pumping beats are heard. After hearing it all many times, it can be hard to pick a favorite... but my favorite is and will always be Darkest Of Kin. If you didn't think that Dallas Taylor could write good lyrics, think again. I absolutely adore the lyrics in this song, and the only thing that tops it is the instrumentation. The song's structure is unclear and the biggest hook in the song isn't even part of the chorus. It's one of the most, this may sound cheesy but, HARD ROCKIN' songs I've ever heard. It's jam packed with riffs and duel leads, it's got a headbanging beat, agh, it's amazing. Pure metal. I like my artistic music, but sometimes you just need to rock out, and this is clearly the best song to do it to.

After 9 exciting tracks, Maylene (almost) closes their sophomore release with a soft, Skynard-esque song called Tale Of The Runaways. I'm glad they did this because I can now listen to Maylene out loud without making my parents mad. The true closer for the album is the (also acoustic) instrumental, The Day Hell Broke Loose At Sicard Hollow. The title is very misleading.

Classic rock-obsessed *******s, metalheads, if you just love good music, I encourage you to listen to Maylene II. It's not the most artistic album per se, but it's instrumentally, vocally, and even lyrically enjoyable. A strong solid release, I look forward to Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster III.

And now, one of my favorite music videos that combines two of my favorite pastimes. Rocking out and skateboarding.

Ladies and gentlemen, Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster.