Spotlight on: Artimus Pyledriver

Sometimes you can judge an album by looking at the cover. The double-barrel gun on the front of Artimus Pyledriver's new, self-titled CD pretty much sums up the record and the band. Singer/songwriter Dave Slocum describes both as a solid representation of "Southern rock, with a liberal dose of stomp-ass." He's right, of course, but frankly, who would argue with him?

The imposing Atlanta boogie-metal kings have been stompin' ass for the better part of three years now. "I always wanted to put a hardcore band together, but with mostly blues-based leads and boogie riffs," Slocum says. "Me and [drummer] Travis Owen kicked around in hardcore bands. [Guitarist] Jimmy Hall was in Bible Belt Byproduct. I think [bassist] Mike Faulkner was doin' the Low Born Poor thing. [Guitarist] Damon Goldsmith was doin' a Sabbath tribute band. I got the idea to get these guys together. Worked out pretty well."

The Pyledriver definition of Southern rock 'n' roll is pretty simple, Slocum says. "It's mostly workin' folks who like to play music. You got the hippie Southern rock bands, and the metal Southern rock bands, the bluesy shit, so I guess everybody can have their own little vision. We may have to carve our own path, which is just fine." The band's lyrics are often fueled by liberal doses of "fast cars, whiskey and large-mouth bass."

Owen sums up the Pyledriver's story with a summation as direct and pointed as that gun on the CD booklet. "We are the hardest working, lazy band on the East Coast," he says, before he crunches the numbers that led to the new record. "After two years, two marriages, one divorce, one almost deadly motorcycle crash on 285, two East Coast tours, one totaled band van, another almost deadly crash on I-20, one DUI, one new baby boy, one stolen truck, two rehearsal studios, four recording studios, and 200 mixes, we have a CD out."

Artimus Pyledriver's CD release party, with openers Dixie Witch and Throttlerod, is Sat., June 11, 10 p.m., at the Star Bar, 437 Moreland Ave. Call for price. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net.