Hydra-Rock The World (1977)

Hydra was another interesting and forgotten American band belonging to the second tier of American southern rock. Founded in Georgia in the early 1970s by guitarist and vocalist Wayne Bruce, guitarist Spencer Kirkpatrick, and drummer Steve Pace, the band had a succession of bassists during its early years, including Trip Burgess and Orville Davis. During those years, the band built a strong reputation with their electrifying live performances in clubs and concert halls throughout Atlanta, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the executives at Capricorn Records, who signed them and released their self-titled debut album in 1974. On this debut, Hydra showcased their gritty Southern rock style with the energy of heavy rock, a style that would be softened on their second album, "Land of Money", when Capricorn's producers unilaterally added a horn section and keyboards, shifting the Southern style towards subtle soul and jazz sounds. After this second album, the band became a trio with Kirkptarick, Bruce, and Pace and released "Rock The World", which would ultimately be their last album and their best work. Most of the tracks on it have the classic Southern rock flavor of the 70s, with powerful guitars, melodic and catchy vocals, and a driving hard rock rhythm. Tracks like the frenetic "Shame", the powerful "Wating Time", the country rock "To The Willowed" or the attractive southern "Feel Like Running" and "Rock The World", make up an attractive album of the exclusive genre of the southern states of North America.