Album Review – Whiskey Myers – “Whomp Whack Thunder”
Southern Rock (#562) on the Country DDS
Whiskey Myers didn’t get the memo that the world has moved on from the days of uninhibited rock and roll, especially when it’s dipped in a batter seasoned with seven herbs and spices, and fried up Southern style. A few short years ago, simply being in possession of music like this might get you sent to HR, or shadowbanned on certain social media platforms.
But Whiskey Myers is here to proclaim that it’s not just country music that needs saving. Someone should stand up tall and puff their chest out for good old American rock and roll, and they’re a good or better candidate to do so as any. So coin yourself an onomatopoeia, and let the guitars roar. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Whomp Whack Thunder.
If we’re being honest, a little trepidation preceded this album. When it was announced the reigning Country Music Antichrist Jay Joyce would be assuming the position behind the knobs and faders for this project, some feared the worst. Joyce has a sordid history of turning our favorite mainstream country performers into pop and rock acts.
But with Whiskey Myers, that ship already sailed years ago. We’re lucky if we get anything country-sounding from them these days, and they’ve always been more of a rock band. And since they enter the studio with their own songs and all the personnel to play them, it insulates them from the worst of the Jay Joyce effect.
Whomp Whack Thunder is just as good or better of a Whiskey Myers album as you can land on thumbing through a CD or vinyl collection. It’s also very much a Whiskey Myers album, with Cody Cannon singing his guts out, John Jeffers and Cody Tate awakening the rock gods on guitar, Jamey Gleaves on bass, Tony Kent on keys, and Jeff Hogg pounding the war drums.
This album is like a tribute or a love letter to rock and roll, and the lifestyle thereof. There’s an ode to cacophonous self-destruction in the song “Tailspin.” There’s songs about life on the road in “I Got To Move” and “Ramblin’ Jones.” There’s a song about the type of wild women you might meet along the way in “Midnight Woman.” Then “Rock N Roll” just comes right out and preaches about what Whiskey Myers personify on the rest of the record.
Speaking of songs though, Whiskey Myers sticks pretty close to the well-worn themes of rock music on this one, which isn’t entirely out-of-character, though you do expect one or two more introspective moments that you don’t really get on this album. “Rowdy Days” does try to tell the other side of the story of an aging rock musician. “Monsters” looks to vanquish the imaginary adversaries in our own minds, but isn’t entirely novel either.
But Whomp Whack Thunder is still an excellent listening record and a hell of a good time, prone to causing speeding tickets on daily commutes, or the need to explain to your wife that you weren’t standing on the living room couch playing air guitar, but trying to brush a cobweb off the ceiling. This is music to trash a hotel room to, and hurl the TV into the pool. The album arguably reaches its anthemic peak with the song “Icarus” about refusing to give up or be counted out.
Sometimes even a strong country fan seeks out a country-adjacent change of pace. As a regular edition on the country festival circuit and proud compatriots of the Texas music scene, Whiskey Myers and Whomp Whack Thunder is a good option, even if it might lead you to some bad behavior and regrettable life choices like the best in rock and roll does.
8.1/10
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Purchase from Whiskey Myers
September 29, 2025 @ 8:33 am
I’m still such a die hard for their earlier sound I struggle to accept this is how it is now. I’m glad you like the album. I wish I could evolve with them too but alas, I am a WM dinosaur.
September 29, 2025 @ 8:41 am
this album rules. Miles better than its predecessor.
September 29, 2025 @ 8:47 am
Saw them Saturday night and they don’t play some of their biggest hits… no “Ballad of a Southern Man,” “Guitar Picker,” or “Anna Marie.” They still put on a helluva show. I get bands eventually phase out some of their older material, but would’ve been nice if they closed with 1 or 2 of them.
Dexter & the Moon Rocks opened and put on a great show as well.
September 29, 2025 @ 8:56 am
Whenever a band just releases a new album, they’re always gonna favor the new material. I’m sure those songs haven’t been permanently fazed out.
October 1, 2025 @ 5:07 pm
How do they NOT play “Ballad of a Southern Man”?
September 29, 2025 @ 1:32 pm
Huge Dexter and the Moonrocks fan. Glad to hear they’re rockin with WM
October 1, 2025 @ 11:41 am
Guitar Picker and Anna Marie haven’t been in the setlist for a long time. Setlist.com isn’t entirely accurate, but the last time they show either of those songs being played is 2017. I’ve seen them twice, most recently 3 years ago, and neither was played either time.
September 29, 2025 @ 9:01 am
I love WM for who they genuinely and unapologetically are. They never miss.
September 29, 2025 @ 9:43 am
Their self titled album in 2019 signaled the end. From broken window serenade to a song eloquently tilted “bitch.”
They haven’t really recovered any ground from there. I listen hoping to find a great track or two, but it’s missing.
Glad it works for you, just ain’t my bag anymore. They’ve evolved passed my sensibilities.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:04 am
I mean bitch is one of the worst, if not the worst, songs on that album.
But that album has a ton of good in it as well.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:26 am
Yeah, that’s a dumb song and I was annoyed to see it taking up space in their live set, but I guess they wanted to throw Jeffers a bone and let him sing one.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:29 am
As I said in the review, I agree it’s missing those one or two great “songs” (not just great tracks) that Whiskey Myers can deliver. But they’ve embraced themselves as a rock band, and perhaps even more on this record.
September 29, 2025 @ 9:55 am
Sorry, but that ain’t my kind of country!
September 29, 2025 @ 10:29 am
Probably because it’s not country.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:16 am
For the record, I opened the morning cleaning the house to Margo Price’s album followed by Myron Elkins, and when it was time for the health club visit, I wanted my ass Whomped, Whacked, and Thundered!!! I’ve been lovin’ this album since it dropped, and we certainly know Rock N Roll could use a little help….(great song too, btw!) This record fills that need of occasionally rockin’ out in the Jeep and giving that Sub a little workout. I never thought I’d say it, but let’s give credit where credit is due, this is Jay Joyce’s lane. I liked Tornillo, and this one may have a clunker I might eliminate, but there’s some Kick Ass tunes on here. I agree with Trig, I don’t need to twang 24/7. I like a little variety, always have.
October 1, 2025 @ 4:43 am
” . . . when it was time for the health club visit, I wanted my ass Whomped, Whacked, and Thundered!!! . . . fills that need of . . . giving that Sub a little workout. . . like a little variety, always have.”
We don’t have that kind of club around here–not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The world is a better place with Whiskey Myers in it. Good album, with broad appeal. Maybe they could add to the title, in parentheses, (Music to Get Railed To).
‘Winnie the Pooh wore a crop top with no panties, binged his favorite food and loved himself–and you can too.’
September 29, 2025 @ 10:20 am
Sunday morning paper said
Rock n roll is surely dead
Somethin hit me deep down in my soul
Lord I know . …
September 30, 2025 @ 5:56 am
This is such a fantastic song. Seriously underrated.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:22 am
I saw them live last week and I think they only did two songs off the new album, but they fit right in with the rest of the set. You’re right that they are more rock than country, but there’s enough “Southern” in that rock to bridge the gap.
And I know this site obviously focuses more on country music, but it was great to see a rockin’ band with two excellent lead guitars in this day and age of wondering what happened to guitar solos.
September 29, 2025 @ 10:41 am
Gotta call it fair from my POV, Jay Joyce did good by both Whiskey Myers and Molly Tuttle these past two months. The direction of Tuttle’s album was jarring on first listen, but I found myself not being able to put it down after subsequent spins. The Church album was a god awful abomination, though I’m hesitant to not lay a lot of that at Eric’s feet.
Thought this one was badass. Tailspin is absolutely filthy, and “Rowdy Days” is sure to be a crowd favorite – regardless of that borrowed riff.
Been going back and forth between this one, Marcus King, and Cole Chaney all weekend. Hard to beat!
September 29, 2025 @ 11:15 am
Different tastes for different folks. WM ain’t country but neither is Treaty Oak, Ragweed, Red Clay Strays, Them Dirty Roses, Blackberry Smoke, Lowdown Drifters, Stamm, CWG, and a host of others that are/were regulars on the festival circuit. And, bands that are more of the Texas & Red Dirt scene aren’t entirely country either. Most are rock influence. But there’s no space out there for these bands besides being folded into the roots family. Rock, Blues, and country, all cousins from the same grandmother.
Smoke and WM are the reigning beacons of southern rock. I dig the album more than Tornillo as a whole. For any of the aforementioned genres, 4 is the proper minimum number of stringed instruments. 5 if there is a fiddle and/or pedal steel included. Rock on WM! Good and Fair review Trig.
September 30, 2025 @ 6:37 pm
Just how narrow is your definition of country if CWG isn’t included?
September 29, 2025 @ 11:57 am
I liked the album on first spin, but I’ll need more time with it to figure out if I love it.
I loved Tornillo. “For the Kids” is one of the saddest songs written in the 21st century IMHO–How has no one hit that note quite that same way, here 50 years into the American divorce revolution? And “Antioch”–that song hits me in the gut every time.
I haven’t been grabbed like that by any of the songs on Whomp Whack Thunder yet, but I haven’t hit skip on any yet either.
September 29, 2025 @ 12:30 pm
It’s like Hootie and the Blowfish.
September 30, 2025 @ 12:16 am
…i post something, therefore i am.
September 30, 2025 @ 6:00 am
Its nothing like that Hank.
September 29, 2025 @ 12:50 pm
I think it a good album. I like my country (old schoold) but I’m a rocker. Been listing to Whiskey Myers since their second album. Love ‘em all. I feel every album has gotten better. Yes, I like the song “Bitch”. Does well to put the pisers in country and rock genres in their place. Tornillo is my personal favorite album from them but this album is a good, fun album and their live shows have gotten so much better. The best Rock and Roll band out there.
September 29, 2025 @ 1:23 pm
I have struggled to find the gumption to dig into their newer music. I want each album to have its own “Broken Window Serenade” or “Stone” or “Lonely East Texas Nights” or “Dogwood.” Call me crazy, but even though they do southern rock so well, I always gravitated toward the songs that drifted outside of that genre distinction. That’s what I want to hear. I’m sure one day I’ll give these last two albums a listen, and it’s very possible I’ll be kicking myself for not doing it sooner, but southern rock is very hit or miss for me and I don’t want to be put off from a band I have really liked over the years.
September 29, 2025 @ 2:01 pm
I wish he’d stop using so much distortion on his vocals. Its so played out.
This album is pretty meh. The self titled and Tornillo were so great and this one is a let down. Most of the riffs sound like they were written by someone that learned to play guitar three months ago.
September 29, 2025 @ 2:25 pm
“Icarus” is the “anthemic peak”??? Lol did you even listen to the album? That song is the worst. It drifts heavily into rap and frankly the boys should be embarrassed to put it on there. Having said that, Midnight Woman, Tailspin, and Timebomb are absolute bangers, as are a couple of others. The music is great, some of the lyrics are weak, but that’s pretty typical of their past outings. Overall, I give it a pass 7/10.
September 29, 2025 @ 4:45 pm
I think you put into words what I have thought about the guitar work as well. It just doesn’t grab me at all. I think as a band they are better writers and story tellers than they are a rock band at least when it comes to putting together studio material.
September 29, 2025 @ 6:56 pm
Agree with the comment about the distorted or filtered vocal or whatever that is. It was actually worse on the last album but it’s still there. Cody Cannon has one of the best voices in rock or country. When I saw WM do their acoustic show last year I was completely blown away by the guy’s voice. It doesn’t need whatever effect that is. Thanks for bringing it up. I thought I was the only one….
September 29, 2025 @ 3:29 pm
“Reining Country Music Antichrist Jay Joyce” lol awesome title
September 29, 2025 @ 7:18 pm
How is this higher rated than the new Marcus King Band record?
September 29, 2025 @ 11:52 pm
This is why I hate giving numeric ratings on reviews because the comparisons are never meant to be side-by-side. I reviewed these two albums together because both of them are more of the rock world than country, though there from two artists adjacent to the country world. To me, the Whiskey Myers album lacks meaningful songs, but was a strong, consistent listen throughout. The Marcus King album had some better songs, but was more hit and miss since he went in and out of different roots influences.
September 29, 2025 @ 8:56 pm
These are some proper East Texas country boys right here. Not necessarily my kind of music, but they haven’t forgotten where they came from and still put on a big festival at the livestock arena every year for the folks who have been with them since the beginning. Anyone saying they ain’t country should try living in rural East Texas and I promise you’ll change your mind.
September 30, 2025 @ 9:56 am
Country and Couuuuuntry are two different things. I know they Couuuuuntry. David Allen Coe taught me the difference. lol.
September 30, 2025 @ 5:31 am
Been a fan of Whiskey Myers since the first album, and the band has been up there in listening time over the years. But I thought their last two albums haven’t really lived up to the rest of their catalog, though both have a few great songs. After a couple of listens, Whomp Whack Thunder is turning out to be the bands best album in a while. I agree with Trigger that there may not be that standout track or two that goes up with there with the band’s top songs ever, but the album as a whole is solid from top to bottom.
Can’t complain about the production from Joyce here either. In fact the overall sound of the album is an improvement from the last few self produced albums. I also like that the band, while still rockin’, has toned down the almost heavy metal sound of previous albums to a more southern rock sound. This reminds me of Whiskey Myers earliest albums. I do have one small complaint though, and it’s Cody Cannon’s processed sounding vocals. It’s something that has been more and more prevalent on the last couple albums, and it continues here. I get vocal effects for a song or two, but it’s overdone by the band.
Overall I liking this album. I feel as though the band is back to sounding more like the Whiskey Myers I became a huge fan of years ago. I’m sure I’ll give this plenty of run.
September 30, 2025 @ 9:50 am
For me this group were never country but they have become rockier. My favourite album of theirs is their self titled album and Tornillo is close behind. However, all their albums are very good and this is an album full of energy. I am really enjoying it.
September 30, 2025 @ 2:14 pm
That thought you should know tune is forced down my throat no matter what Pandora station I chose (left that platform a while back). If I thought Céline Dion was awesome, they would’ve pushed that song on me.
October 1, 2025 @ 5:50 am
Off the topic of this new album, does anyone know why Road Of Life has been removed from streaming? There’s some great songs on that album. I was updating my Whiskey Myers mix with some of these new songs and noticed the Road Of Life songs are blanked out. I have the CD and MP3 versions, but they don’t play well in a streamed mix.
If the band is reading this, please bring Road Of Life back to streaming. Thank you.
October 2, 2025 @ 1:16 pm
Last release was a big miss for me. Will be checking this out on yiutube before sending money their way.
October 3, 2025 @ 2:35 pm
I’m 72,and the rockers of my boyhood and young manhood are octogenarians or,as the Righteous Brothers sang in 1974,in Rock and Roll Heaven.It’s great that Whiskey Myers hasn’t forgotten,and chose to grace us with his renditions.
October 5, 2025 @ 5:43 am
I won’t abide the Whiskey Myers trash talk here. Greatest rock and roll band there is and they don’t miss. I personally worship at the alters of both rock and roll and country and western, these guys are keeping the rock and roll spirit alive a if you can’t understand that why are you listening