American Gun. Dark Southern Hearts. Both phrases conjure up images of heads of long, died-black hair, hunched over guitars banging out metal riffs. The truth is much more Lucero than Leviathan. They released their debut full-length album, Dark Southern Hearts, back in September of 2006, and they are currently in the studio recording their follow-up, The Means and the Machine, which is scheduled for an early-2008 release. I was recently handed a burned copy of Dark Southern Hearts by a drinking buddy whose name I only remember when I am drunk. He told me to stick it in my pocket and listen to it later, I’d probably wanna mention it “on that online music paper thing you do”. He was right.

Columbia, South Carolina’s American Gun features a pair of songwriters, Donald Merckle and Todd Mathis. They describe themselves as dueling songwriters, claiming Mathis’ songs bring in new fans, while Merckle’s songs keep them there. Since my cd is a burned copy, I have no idea who is writing or singing what. However, they’re sometimes rocking in the order two shots in a row, and sometimes cutting to the heart of the manner as directly as possible. So I can say that there are two moods to these guys that intermingle wonderfully. My only regret is getting to the party so late….thanks…ummm…errr…drinking buddy whose name I only remember when I am drunk…..Next release is on me.

American Gun - Someone to Blame
American Gun - Tears
American Gun - Sound of Blue

American Gun’s Official Site, American Gun on myspace, Buy Dark Southern Hearts