According to their MySpace bio, Raleigh, NC’s own Automag claim, “this here ain't yer daddy's southern rock... this is pure nitro-methane mixed up in the basement. Automag is what happens when metal and southern rock pull a 3 day moonshine binge at a stripper convention in Vegas with a pocket full of $100 bills and a wallet full of credit cards!”
After a listen, this reviewer would have to agree. This is without doubt not the same Southern rock that seems to be churning out these days… there is nothing predictable about Automag or their release, “Hellbound“. This is full on rock metal with a southern exposure and all of the key ingredients are there. Superior vocals from lead singer The Mighty Quinn (and yes he’s that good that he can back up that moniker), and a tight 
rhythm section in Stan Pruden (bass) and Dave Cook (drums) that produces a barricaded, let’s take cover wall of sound.
Songs like “Dead Man Walking”, “New Southern Outlaw” and “Hellbound” are the jewels in this steel riveted crown, giving a slight nod, ever so slight to bands like Creed, COC, and Lynyrd Skynyrd when Lynyrd Skynyrd was both hungry and good. That same hunger is in Automag and it is palpable in each of their tracks.
Let’s hope they stay hungry at least in their craving for music that actually makes your ears perk up and take a listen… because if “Hellbound” is any indication of what this three piece is capable of for the long haul, you’ll want to flag them down and ride shotgun along with them.
4.5 Stars
