Metal Underground.com

It's interesting to note the change in Jackyl singer Jesse James Dupree's voice since the "Lumberjack" days. Where once Dupree sounded like AC/DC's Bon Scott, now he sounds a helluva lot like latter-day AC/DC shrieker Brian Johnson.

Yup, just like Krokus' "Hoodoo" (reviewed here) earlier this year, Jackyl's latest, "When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide" will help ease your AC/DC jones until Angus and the boys see fit to put out another studio album. Jackyl's under no pretensions about it, either. The title track gives props to the thunder from down under urges us to "crank some AC/DC and throw it down til we're blind."

If you're looking for originality, you'd best look elsewhere. If you're looking for balls-out rock riffs, this album's packed with them.

The band's presskit describes the disc as "sounding exactly like Jackyl, except that it's one notch louder." In other words, those who marveled at the magnificent subtleties of the band's earlier lyrics like "I jacked my lumber, baby, when my chain saw you," are going to be thrilled at stuff like "Overflow Of Love," which discusses "a two on one connection" or "She's Not A Drug" (the video for which will be filmed in strip clubs across the country), with its urging to "shake it shinny, go go boots, and lots of hiney shaking." Rocket science, it ain't, but it matches the sweaty guitar riffs by Dupree and Jeff Worley quite nicely. In fact, the one time the band tries to get all "peace, love and harmony" on us, it creates an uncomfortably Spinal Tap-ish sensation on the well-meaning, but awkward "Just Like A Negro," in which Dupree describes himself as part of "the music generation," reminding us that "you know the brothers are the ones that started rock and roll."

Riff-wise, this disc is pretty heavy stuff, with "Freight Train," "Deeper In Darkness" and the fuzz-bass-laced "Get Mad At It" especially standing out. And, when the band quiets down on the title track, they actually pull it off in a "Ride On" kind of way.

On the other hand, there are moments when Dupree falls down as a vocalist. He seems to be straining to reach notes that are just out of reach throughout the silly "My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine's Ass," and a horrid version of Janis Joplin's a capella classic "Mercedes Benz" seems to have been thrown in as a joke.

Originality is overrated. Crank up Jackyl's "When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide" for an AC/DC style thrill ride of riffs and screams.