Release the Hounds

If such a thing as late '90s commercial hard rock existed, then maybe that's what the Boondock Saints music could be called. On the group's 2000 Atlantic/Lava Records release, New Englanders Troy (vocals, guitars) and Taylor Duffy (guitars, vocals) lead the rest of the Boondock Saints (drummer Jimi Jackson and bassist Gordon Clark) through some highly melodic, tight hard rock that recalls early '90s Alice in Chains and influences significantly earlier. The Duffy's harmonize nicely throughout Release the Hounds and when they stay away from the Layne Staley phrasing and Jerry Cantrell talk box guitar (as on the horrid opener "Paper Sun") things work out well enough. Highlights include the grinding "Metal Soul" and a couple other rockers that have the group sound a bit like an elevated Bon Jovi. Duffy's repetitive and clichéd lyrics hold back country rockers like "One More," which is too bad, as the melodies and pop song structures are solid. If this release was just an afterthought to the Duffy-penned film of the same name, then the Boondock Saints are to be congratulated for their musical accomplishments, but with its thin production and weak lyrics, Release the Hounds doesn't stand up to any serious M.O.R. rock offering.