When Lynyrd Skynyrd’s career was cut short by a 1977 airplane crash, Molly Hatchet stepped in to fill the void left by the beloved progenitors of Southern rock. However, it’s important to understand that the band wasn't simply cashing in on tragedy. Molly Hatchet shared a hometown and a manager with Skynyrd, and Ronnie Van Zant had been slated to produce the band's debut before he died in the crash. Thus, Molly Hatchet shouldn't be viewed as a replication of Skynyrd’s formula but rather a continuation. And for all the similarities between the two groups, the differences are immediately evident. Where Skynyrd was predicated on an occasionally unwieldy three-guitar attack, Molly Hatchet is all about sinewy grooves. “Bounty Hunter,” “Gator Country," and “Trust Your Old Friend” may be considered good old-fashioned rock & roll, but their stealthy, shuffling underpinnings make them unique. “Cheatin’ Woman” veers closer to Skynyrd's majestic swamp metal, but its slyness and concision make this a definitive example of Florida rock.