While their deep-seated southern roots and flamboyant below-the-Mason-Dixon name might imply differently, Dead Confederate rocks a little harder, a little heavier, and a little more intelligently than you might think.

Actually, the guys from this ensemble of alt-rockers have even said the name was meant to signify their disdain towards today's stereotypical southern rock.

Don't misunderstand, they still keep that bluesy twang so often associated with music out of the blazing hot south, but with an added alternative edge. Emotionally charged lyrics are belted out by front man Hardy, whose mesmerizing vocal capacity (and I know it's trodding on sacred ground to repeat this) has been compared to that of King Cobain himself. There are some pitches hit in a way that is even reminiscent of Bono, if you can imagine both these voices combining in the giant mixing pot of capability that is Hardy's voice.

But the magic behind Dead Confederate rests in the fact that they put out the same powerfully conflicted yet predatory tracks as those heard in the heyday of Nirvana, while managing to incorporate other elements of rock. For example, It Was A Rose has an old-school southern twang at the start, but spins into an eloquently dangerous diatribe of sound, much like Pearl Jam's softer numbers.

If sound alone doesn't drag you in than the intimate lyrics will. Take the single The Rat , which features lines like "Throw your judgements across the breeze / Bag and burn / Bang bang / You live inside your Jesus dream" -- touching on delicate subjects but with the fervor and dedication to wreck an entire history of beliefs.

Wrecking Ball, the latest release from these alt-rock revivalists, is complex, heavy, and deeply melodic.

Additional Tracks:
Heavy Petting
Start Me Laughing