HAMMERLOCK - True Grit
(Steel Cage)

True Grit is a vital comp that collects all the tracks from Hammerlock's first two albums, American Asshole and Anthems for Outlaws, which both went out of print after Frank Kozik sold his Man's Ruin Records empire for blow. Or whatever he did with it, I wasn't there. Point being, unless you were in-the-know back then, you probably haven't heard these bruising scumpunk messterpieces of malice and moonshine, so rejoice and listen in awe and reverence. For historical purposes, I should mention that Hammerlock are from San Francisco, but they look, sound and act like hillbilly killers from Mississippi. They're a husband and wife team -- Travis and the dangerously attractive Elizabeth Kenney -- and they play almost impossibly authentic outlaw rock about getting drunk and shooting people who wander onto their property. Much like Jim Goad did back in the early 90's, Hammerlock ooze such unreasonable menace that you don't even feel safe listening to their music, never mind watching them play or like, wandering onto their property. It's pretty remarkable stuff, really. If you dig the outlaw country legends like David Allan Coe and hillbilly rattlers like Hank Williams III, then yr gonna love this mean-spirited shitkicker punk. Twenty Nine tracks to wade through here, every one of 'em a bullet aimed squarely at your forehead. Approach with caution.
— Sleazegrinder