Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band will be releasing their fourth album in three years. The twelve-track journey titled Lower County Outlaw not only shows the exceptional range and skill of Montgomery as a multi-talented musician but displays an exceptional improvement in production and clarity from his previous records. With an August 5 release date, it will be accompanied by a promotional party at Pauly’s Hotel in Albany.
Who is Kristian Montgomery?
Kristian Montgomery has been a part of the music industry for a while and originally began his career as a metal vocalist, but has turned to country in recent years. Since the switch-up, his success has reached all new heights as his music has received increasing attention all over the world and has even received a nomination for the New England Music Awards and Boston Music Awards.
The New England based artist doesn’t have a static genre, however, as his music often drifts between rock, soul, and the blues as is evident in his previous three albums The Gravel Church, Prince of Poverty, followed by his latest, A Heaven for Heretics. Montgomery’s first two albums were raw reflections of the dark aspects of his past while A Heaven for Heretics worked to make sure listeners knew they weren’t alone. No matter the music, if it comes from Montgomery, people are sure to experience the countless layers of human emotion, struggle, and isolated country living.
The band’s new album, Lower County Outlaw, has Andrew Kross on production, a producer who has worked with Grammy winning artists such as John Legend and Alicia Keys. Not only is the album’s production an incredible success with its crystal clear instrumentals and the strength of Montgomery’s vocals, but the story created slaps listeners straight in the ears. Lower County Outlaw is a project of pure heartbreak, rage, and spiteful energy as it tells listeners about a woman who is in every way an outlaw when it comes to Mongomery’s heart.
Album Review
For the most part, the album stays close to Montgomery’s usual style of country/rock, at times giving listeners a feel of his metal-head past. Throughout the album, his voice soars as strong as ever with enticing melodies and crazy instrumentals. However, tracks like “Easy To Forget You When I’m Gone” and “The 4th of July” see the artist taking a step back from the spiteful lyrics and in-your-face rock styles seen in other album tracks such as “Somebody’s Baby Mama” and “The Girl With The Gauges In Her Ears.” “Easy To Forget You When I’m Gone” is a forceful reminder that Montgomery is a modern country artist, taking listeners on a slow physical and emotional drive away from constant and painful reminders of the woman he no longer has.
The final track combines his rage full lyrics with an old upbeat country melody that closes the album with a goodbye that foreshadows a return. During the track, Montgomery mercilessly rips the woman mentioned throughout the twelve tracks apart, similar to the rest of the album, and simultaneously creates hope for himself to stand on saying, “when you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing left to lose.” While Lower County Outlaw is well-put together and easily catches listeners attention, the themes seem to cut women down in stereotypical ways in order to build the lyricist up. Although stemming from a place of heartbreak and loss, the message distracts from the music.
Overall, the album is definitely worth a listen and fans should be excited to hear it live throughout the band’s summer tour stretch and feel free to make it their angry heartbreak album!
