Twenty-five years since their dissolution and Noise-Rockers The Jesus Lizard are back, with the classic line-up of Mac McNeilly – Drums, David Wm Sims – Bass, Duane Denison – Guitar, and David Yow – Vocals now fully restored. A quick history lesson for the uninitiated, the band formed in Austin, Texas in 1987 from the ashes of Scratch Acid, before relocating to Chicago in 1989. From there they would go onto put out a string of groundbreaking releases including a split single with some band called Nirvana, who you may have heard of.
Rack (Ipecac Recordings) continues the Lizard’s tradition of giving their albums one-word titles but much more notable is the return of Mac McNeilly on Drums, who was notably absent from the band’s then final album Blue. Jim Kimball of The Laughing Hyenas/Mule did an admirable job filling in but he had no chance. So has such a long hiatus been worth the wait? There’s only one way to find out…
“Hide & Seek” was the first single to be released from the album and an initial listen reveals why it was chosen. The band blasts through just over three minutes of glorious grinding latter-period Rollins Band style Punky Rock ‘n’ Roll goodness, it’s as if they never left. “Armistice Day” slows the pace with the band taken a more considered approach, Yow’s Vocals reminding you of fIREHOSE’s Ed Crawford while musically a Bluesier almost mournful tone is adopted. It feels like the experimentation that was started on the aforementioned Blue has continued. If you wanted strictly by-the-numbers Noise-Rock and nothing more then be prepared to be disappointed. There’s a hypnotic quality to “Grind” with the brilliantly sneering sprechgesang John Lydon-esque Vocals offset by the discordant Funk musical phrasing and “What If?” with its spoken word Vocals and the Noir-Jazzy backdrop will delight fans of quirky SST outfits such as Saccharine Trust. “Lord Godiva” is pure Hard-Rock joy, with a Doors inspired middle section ala “Roadhouse Blues”, the track’s title even sounding like it might have been coined by Morrison and Co. The promotional notes state that “Alexis Feels Sick” “is inspired by Girls Against Boys/Soulside drummer Alexis Fleisig’ guarded opinion of modern life that turns into a treatise of man’s inhumanity to man”. The track is sinister sounding, indicative of the Dark Post-Punk of The Birthday Party who’ve inspired Yow throughout his music career, while “Falling Down” takes a faster Hardcore approach which shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone seeing as this is the band that once covered “Wheelchair Epidemic” by The Dicks, superb.
“Dunning Kruger” refers to the phenomenon of overconfident individuals actually underperforming, a sly dig at presidential nominee Donald Trump? Who knows and frankly who cares. What is more certain is that this fantastic number wouldn’t be out of place on any of the band’s classic 90’s albums. “Moto(R)” is aptly named, as if the listener is speeding along in the coolest car whilst adrenaline-charged Garage-Rock blasts from the speakers, meanwhile “Is That Your Hand” takes an almost Gothic hue with nods to early 80’s Deathrock and to spectacular effect. Finally “Swan The Dog” concludes the record on an eccentric note, tipping its hat to performers such as Danny Elfman and Mr. Bungle which makes for captivating listening it has be said.
Unlike Helmet and The Pixies whose post-reunion output has been patchy to say the least (that’s being kind), The Jesus Lizard have delivered to us a creatively intriguing yet simultaneously hard-hitting collection of tunes. Welcome back, lads.
Buy the album here:
https://amzn.to/4gFRWjI
8 / 10
REZA MILLS
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