Nothin' But Blood

Scott H. Biram isn't for the faint of heart. He's an aggressive one-man band whose primary goals are taking your head off and shocking the pants off you. While there’s a sense of contrition looming over this album, it’s more like a counterpoint to the man’s pursuit of excess. The acoustic “Never Comin’ Home” is an outlaw’s idea of almost settling down. “Only Whiskey” immediately cranks back up to a manic, rockin’ speed, as if the previous revelation had been merely a moment of weakness. Recorded at Biram’s home studio and at Cacophony Studios in Austin, Texas—the first time Biram has used an outside studio in several releases—Nothin’ but Blood ping-pongs from gloriously dirty lo-fi to mildly upgraded fidelity for a surprisingly diverse set. “Alcohol Blues” and “Church Point Girls” go for the throat with reckless abandon and raw, distorted boogie. “Nam Weed” nails down outlaw country like it's 1973. “I’m Troubled” settles into a recording with acoustic guitar and harmonica; it's clear and efficient and could be a back-porch jam if we didn’t know better.