Fort Wayne’s Snakehandler Church, the trio of Pete Dio (vocals/guitar), Drew Snyder (bass), and Matt Belcher (drums), want to rock you. Not just rock you, but pummel you with big riffs, belted vocals, and a rhythm section that will make your soul groove against its will. 

They describe their sound as Southern punk, but if you’ve heard their previous releases, you know there’s more going on than just punk rock with a Southern twist. This is an exorcism by fire, power chords, and hot sauce.

Last we heard from our purveyors of all things loud, fast, and crass was 2022’s Electric Baptism, a Billy Sunday revival with musical guests Corrosion of Conformity. 

The guys have returned with their newest long player, Top Notch Heavy Rock, and the sonic footprint is wider and even more rocking. Touches of New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Queens of the Stone Age, and even a pinch of AC/DC for good measure. It’s loud, proud, and ready to give you tinnitus. 

“Kiss the Ring” comes out of the gate full of fire and brimstone, complete with a Bob Odenkirk cold open. Dio shreds his vocal cords properly here. “Hotboxing with God” is a hardcore, fist-pumping anthem in the tradition of Motörhead and The Meatmen. “Mother Mary Medusa” is all killer, no filler, towing the line between hardcore and thrash. 

Elsewhere, “Into the Light” chugs like classic Danzig (Dio even adds little Danzig-isms in his vocal delivery.) Title track “Top Notch Heavy Rock” is under a minute and sounds like it came right off AC/DC’s Flick of the Switch. “Splash O Gas” and “Knife Fight at the Waffle House” close things out in a bruised, bloody, sweaty mess. 

If you’re looking for power ballads, prog rock indulgences, or pop confections, you’re barking up the wrong tree. But if you want your music loud, fast, and worshipping at the altar of professional wrestling, then Top Notch Heavy Rock will fill the void like Taco Bell at 1 a.m. on a Friday night.