Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg
Texas rockers Whiskey Myers have delivered their most uncompromising statement yet with Whomp Whack Thunder, their seventh studio album now available via their own Wiggy Thump Records. After self-producing their last two records, the multi-platinum band enlisted GRAMMY-winning producer Jay Joyce to capture their rawest essence – and the results are nothing short of explosive.
“People have forgotten what rock and roll is: blues-based, some country to it, but coming hard,” declares guitarist John Jeffers, and Whomp Whack Thunder proves that point with bruising authority. From the wiry, low-slung guitar assault that opens ‘Time Bomb’ – A-Listed on Planet Rock Radio and currently climbing Active Rock charts – to the blistering new single ‘Icarus’ with its explosive guitar blasts and Hammond B-3 rides, this is Whiskey Myers firing on all cylinders.
The album showcases the six-piece’s genre-defying approach across eleven tracks of pure adrenaline. ‘Tailspin’ earned A-List Planet Rock rotation, while barroom raver ‘I Got To Move’ captures the band’s live intensity. The Southern-fried menace of ‘Ramblin’ Jones’ gives way to the blues-forward swagger of ‘Break These Chains’, demonstrating why Rolling Stone calls them “country’s most rocking band.”
But this isn’t just sonic brutality for its own sake. Deeper cuts like the whirling groove of ‘Midnight Woman’ and the artistic manifesto ‘Born To Do’ reveal the emotional complexity that’s driven their 3,000+ live shows since emerging in 2007. As frontman Cody Cannon explains: “There are a lot of reflective moments to this record: experience and the years all add up.”
Built From the Ground Up
Whiskey Myers’ journey embodies rock and roll’s DIY ethos. “We did it the old school way: played every bar, every night and cut our teeth,” Cannon reflects. “That’s a lot of experience and wisdom earned.” This grassroots approach built concentric rings of success – from local Texas bars to headlining Red Rocks Amphitheatre and opening for The Rolling Stones.
The numbers speak volumes: over 4 billion global streams, 2.7 million in sales, and nine RIAA certifications – all achieved independently. Their previous album Tornillo featured ‘John Wayne’, the No. 17 most-played Americana song of 2022, while breakthrough record Whiskey Myers hit No. 1 on Country charts and No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Critical Acclaim
The rock press has taken notice. Classic Rock awarded 8/10, praising the band for “going full-tilt boogie,” while Powerplay delivered a perfect 10/10, calling it “brilliant, one of their best.” Rock News echoes the sentiment with another 10/10: “Whomp Whack Thunder is more than just another record; it’s a testament to a band at the height of its powers.”
Blues Matters perhaps captured it best: “This isn’t just another Whiskey Myers record; it’s the sound of a band at full stride, pouring Southern rock through a blues-soaked filter, with heavy guitars and heavier truths.”
With sync placements in Yellowstone, Landman, and numerous other high-profile productions, Whiskey Myers continue proving that authentic rock and roll still moves the masses. Whomp Whack Thunder stands as their most defiant statement yet – a middle finger to industry trends and a love letter to rock’s primal power.
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