Pride & Glory – “Pride & Glory” (Reissue) [Album Review]

There was a time in my life where I was trapped between ‘70s rock and ‘90s death metal. When saving grace Zakk Wylde formed Pride & Glory with the perfect juxtaposition of modern-day iniquities and post modern-day blessings, I sold my soul for latter-day saints rock and roll. I would play their self titled CD every night in search of my personal healing and outlook on life. Now twenty-some years later, the classic Pride & Glory album is back with the help of eOne Music, and I find myself shouting the lyrics just below 10pm noise levels so the neighbors don’t call the cops. As a loose canon loudmouth, let’s crack open a beer and unleash this motherfucker.

We have snake, crawdad, and alligator stew brewing in tracks like “Losing Your Mind”; a straight up, Blackfoot-induced banjo pickin’ transcendent romp-and-stomp boogie. “Loving Woman” finds you at the local bar showcasing that you’re knee deep trouble if you don’t get your ass home because your bar mates know you’re homeless if you don’t.

“Harvester of Pain“ sings, caught between the blue and the grey, and isn’t that just exactly where America is stuck now? A war between brothers and sisters that’s forever eternal because of some guy on TV promising you dreams that will never come true? The same old bullshit year after year, decade after decade. Yeah man, we’ve all heard it before with our families paying for your bad decisions. Let’s stick this veto up your ass. But I regress (no pun intended)…

Start “Losing’ Your Mind” with the classic video of the intro track.

The instrumentations between Wylde, Brian Tichy, and James LoMenzo seem effortless, like an Allman Brothers and Black Sabbath peanut butter, jelly, bangers and mash sandwich. Did I lose you yet… pay attention. This is about as Mississippi as you can get before you hit Birmingham.

I’m not going to break down every track in my hot skillet of cornbread montage, but you need to save your pennies for this one as “Cry Me a River” will make you wanna grab your gal and swing her around at a Saturday night hoedown with a good showing of Black Snake Moan after the cows go home and the fat lady sings. No worries, you can pay you’re your penance with “Sweet Jesus“ on good Sunday.

The bonus tracks have been floating around the internet for years, in fact, I have several CDs full of them. This shit runs blood deep in me, but it’s nice to have them properly mastered and fit into one tight package. I find a special kinship with the acoustic version of “Machine Gun Man“ for personal reasons. Hell, the whole damn album is personal!

This is a band that deserved at least a double shot, with a sequel before Zakk’s 1996 solo album, Book Of Shadows. But hey, there’s always tomorrow, and we can always hope for one more round before closing time.

“Shine On” with Zakk and the boys at 1994’s Sonoria Festival in Italy.

Pride & Glory Track Listing:

01. Losin’ Your Mind
02. Horse Called War
03. Shine On
04. Lovin’ Woman
05. Harvester of Pain
06. The Chosen One
07. Sweet Jesus
08. Troubled Wine
09. Machine Gun Man
10. Cry Me a River
11. The Line
12. Found a Friend
13. Fadin’ Away
14. Hate Your Guts
15. Machine Gun Man (acoustic bonus)
16. Mother Mary (alternate version)

Reissue Bonus Tracks:

01. The Wizard (Black Sabbath cover)
02. Torn and Tattered
03. In My Time of Dying (Led Zeppelin cover)
04. The Hammer & the Nail
05. Come Together (The Beatles cover)

Run Time: 65:53
Release Date: October 25, 2019
Record Label: eOne Music

Find your own special kinship with the acoustic version of “Machine Gun Man.”