REBEL MEETS REBEL – Rebel Meets Rebel

Reminiscent of — but driven far beyond — its Southern Rock forefathers, Rebel Meets Rebel pleasantly punishes with the tenacity of Pantera and the devilish singing and lyrics of David Allan Coe. The “Cowboys from Hell” — the late, great “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott on guitar and backing vocals, his brother Vinnie Paul on drums, and Rex Brown on bass (3/4 of Pantera) — connect with Outlaw Country veteran Coe for a loud and rowdy Country-Metal romp that stampedes over any notion from one genre that the other genre (or its fans …) suffers from inbreeding.

This baby is blessed by the absence of those “my wife left me, my dog died, and my pickup’s broke” nasally sung, weepy tunes best left to the Country Swill purists. What you have here ain’t no sissy-boy sob stories, no siree. Also left behind is Metal’s “Cookie Monster” growling in favor of actual singing. This here is the best of both worlds come to kick you in the ass with a metal-tip, snakeskin boot. The signature Metal sound of Pantera is in there, the smooth but righteous style of Coe is in there, and the result is a head-banging, foot-stomping good time.

Just be mindful that your 2-steppin’ doesn’t turn into 12-steppin’. The party atmosphere typically glorified by the bad boys of both Rock and Country is in fact the central theme of the album. These tunes are so contagious, you might suddenly find yourself singing “Cowboys Do More Dope Than Rock ‘n’ Rollers” at the office water cooler, as your boss and co-workers look on with a newfound curiosity about your private life.

Recorded before Dimebag Darrell’s tragic murder, Rebel Meets Rebel came about after David Allan Coe was blown away by some Pantera videos that Dime gave him after one of Coe’s shows (Dime as a kid heard Coe’s music when his parents used to listen, and became a fan himself). They all hit it off and layed down the tracks at Dime’s home studio. The recordings went on the shelf while the post-Pantera Damageplan project was developing. Ironically, Dime joked to Vinnie that he wanted the Rebel sessions to be released on CD “before the old man [Coe] kicks the bucket.”

David Allan Coe gives a charismatic performance on the disc and provides a lot of the cohesiveness that makes the Country and Metal styles work together. Like a smooth whiskey, his voice displays both composure and presence. Pantera fans may be familiar with Coe’s “Jack Daniels, If You Please” from the band’s pre-show warm-up music. Coe is the songwriter behind “Take This Job (and Shove It)” and “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone),” #1 records for Johnny Paycheck and Tanya Tucker, respectively. Coe has had his own chart-toppers, “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile,” and “The Ride.”

Rebel Meets Rebel deserves high marks for its upbeat and uncompromising attitude, catchy songs, and ability to engender a good mood in the listener. Its highfalutin lack of humility might make it rather unpalatable to conservative Country fans, and Metalhead dogmatists who would prefer to stay “inbred” might frown upon it. Those qualifying can be left to themselves.

The band admittedly doesn’t take itself too seriously — whatever that means, coming from a bunch of guys intent on professing their barroom philosophy until they can’t see straight. But then, that says it all.