IV and the Strange Band

There are very few families that had so much impact on American country as the Williams dynasty did. It all started with Hank Williams, one of the most influential and beloved musicians within the genre. Son Hank Williams Jr. continued the tradition and added more instrumentation, heavier vocals and deeper lyrics. Successor Hank Williams III decided to add punk spirit to the overall sound, giving it yet another twist. His country was mixed with rockabilly, metal and punk and was hot-tempered, dark and even downright gloomy at times. And now we’ve got the fourth generation of the Williams dynasty, IV. With his Strange Band he goes back to the roots of country, at least to some extent. On the excellent album “Southern Circus” from 2022, subdued folk and traditional country songs are followed by heavier country punk songs. It’s as if all four generations have been brought together on a single album. On the new album “Hang Dog”, he goes even deeper into these traditions. IV proves that country is still alive and kicking!