Eric Culberson - No Rules to the Game (1998)

Culberson's follow-up to his Kingsnake debut, Blues Is My Religion, follows a similar path with the guitarist drawing from his main influences, Albert and Freddie King. Culberson's raw attack also comes with a lot of rock pyrotechnics, and seldom does he lay back in his approach, which can be positively blazing on instrumentals like "High Steppin'" and "Savannah Swing." On the more rock-oriented numbers like "Broken Family Blues," "Matter of Time" and the title track, he shows chops galore while on covers of Muddy Waters' "Honey Bee" and the venerable workhorse "It's My Life, Baby," the shows considerably more restraint. Other highlights include the shuffling "Workhorse Blues," the slow blues extravaganza "If You Leave Me" and the six-minute John Lee Hooker-styled "Small Town." Fans of no-holds-barred, hardcore blues-rock will absolutely love this one. If you dig blazing guitar and lots of it, this is definitely for you.