For those of you not familiar with Bloodshot Bill's music, try to imagine Johnny Cash in a vicious knife fight with Brian Setzer.

Bill's seventh album, Rockabilly Trash, features 13 tracks recorded in May, 10 of which are Bloodshot originals. All 13 songs showcase Bill by his lonesome on guitar, drums and vocals. He considers it his finest work to date, proclaiming on his Web site, "I really do think it's my best one yet, man, I really do."

Bloodshot's voice ranges from a mock-'50s Elvis Presley yodel to a high, scratchy whine, so that it sounds like Satan is twanging away at his vocal chords. The guitar work is filled with jagged, electric riffs, resulting in an overall sound that is hell-bent, country-western dumpster rock. Or, put simply, pure rockabilly.

Bloodshot Bill writes songs about driving drunk, incurring the law, being greasy, and love. A fitting sample of his cuddly lyrics comes from the song "Bloodshot Man": "I been kicked outta school since-sixth grade / yeah, for slashin' up my teacher with a-switch blade." Despite moments of graphic violence like this, Bill's lyrics are very humorous, and they're delivered as if someone shoved a buzz saw down his throat. Lyrically and musically, the album is loaded with blues from Hell's kitchen.

Bill, recently on tour through Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, will swing through Exeter for a gig at the Loaf and Ladle on Saturday, Sept. 25. For this appearance we can thank Satan's Teardrops, who made Bill's acquaintance while playing in North Carolina. It's got the makings of the most entertaining shows in recent memory. If you want to do some research before he comes to town, look him up on the Web (www.bloodshotbill.com), where he offers his own brand of "Nice 'N' Greasy" pomade.

They say Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil in order to play a mean guitar. In many ways, Bill sounds like a modern day Johnson. He'll be here to exorcise the demons on Saturday night. And stay tuned-the rumor wisping around the bandstand in Exeter is that Andrew Ulery is close to booking the Dead Milkmen's Rodney Anonymous for sometime in November. Keep your fingers crossed and your Camaro fueled.