The Jesus Lizard – ‘Rack’ album review: noise rock legends return on top form
THE SKINNY: All noise rock lovers will be familiar with The Jesus Lizard. Formed in 1987 and hailing from Texas, the band are favourites within the genre – pioneers, even. With every album they’ve released, the group have asserted themselves as pure musical geniuses, balancing thick layers of noise with melodic sensibilities. With Rack, their first album in 26 years, the Jesus Lizard prove that they’ve still got it; they’re still one of the greatest noise rock acts of all time.
Often, when a band returns decades later, there’s a hesitancy among fans. What if the band doesn’t produce anything half as good as their earlier material and then ruin comeback gigs with tepid half-baked cuts played in between the old classics? Luckily for fans of the Jesus Lizard, the band have created something that is just as strong as the albums they put out in the 1990s, full of hammering riffs, deep basslines and David Yow’s signature vocals.
Over the course of eleven songs, the band fire out relentless energy and power, assuring us that the years that have passed have not affected their ability to write clever and addictive tracks. With opener ‘Hide & Seek’, the band go full throttle, holding no punches as Yow sings about battling a witch, painting a dark image as ferocious guitars and fast-paced drums soundtrack Yow’s panicked delivery.
The basslines that anchor down every track are phenomenal, harnessing a rich tone that serves as the perfect backdrop for pummelling riffs. For example, on ‘What If?’, the bass serves as a central aspect of the song, helping to convey a sense of mystery and darkness as Yow repeats ambiguous lines like “I’ve always wondered, what if?”
While some songs have more of a brooding tempo, the Jesus Lizard hardly falters, always bringing the album back up to speed with high-paced enthusiasm and expression. Here, the band do what they do best, performing tracks that are certain to set mosh pits alight with a desperate frenzy. Yow’s words are often mysterious or menacing, alluding to chaos and pain, but the album will certainly put a smile on fans’ faces.
For fans of: ‘90s nostalgia and buying a pint, only to instantly lose half of it in the crowd.
A concluding comment from my disgruntled housemate: “Could you turn it down a bit, please? This isn’t Knebworth.”
Rack track by track:
Release Date: September 13th | Producer: Paul Allen | Label: Ipecac Recordings
‘Hide & Seek’: For those new to the Jesus Lizard, this song will surely convert listeners. It’s high energy, and the band presents us with non-stop riffs. Yow’s vocals are rather entertaining here, leaning a little into melodrama. [4.5/5]
‘Armistice Day’: A more sludgy cut comes next, focusing on deep growling riffs, slightly drawn out over a prominent bassline that bounces in the background. It’s moody and brooding, perfect for the coming months. [4/5]
‘Grind’: Faster and more high octane, with a great solo to boot, Yow delivers some poignant musings on this track, such as “I think food for thought ought to be force-fed in school” and “Collect conflicting viewpoints for your stupid point of view.” [4/5]
‘What If?’: There’s a sense of mystery present on ‘What If’, which is perfectly fitting with its title. Yow talks over this one, sharing sparse questions and thoughts, allowing a rich bass tone to carry his ideas. [4/5]
‘Lord Godiva’: This is the kind of track that will get your head banging without a moment’s thought. There is a steady rhythm present, but it is often punctuated by an outburst of guitars, and even a riff that sounds as though the band are about to launch into ‘Roadhouse Blues’. They don’t, of course. Instead, they unleash pure noise upon us. [4/5]
‘Alexis Feels Sick’: Another bass-centric number, the song thrashes with cymbals as a strong riff runs through the whole thing. Yow also experiments with his voice, letting himself shriek and wail. [4/5]
‘Falling Down’: There is a moment mid-way through the song where the bass takes the lead, stopping and starting, building a perfect amount of tension to allow for a well-deserved release. [4.5/5]
‘Dunning Kruger’: “Your lack of compassion excites me/ Because I don’t think that I am included/ I don’t want it/ I don’t want it/ You can have it,” Yow sings over a heavy palette of instrumentation. It’s fun, although the riff here doesn’t feel as exciting or original compared to other tracks. [3.5/5]
‘Moto(R)’: Yow spouts some rather random lines here, like “Tater tots or fries” and “Parisian without grace/ Shave my back/ But only to my waist/ In a public toilet/ In a private place.” Yet, against the backdrop of driving riffs, the lyrics all come together. [3.5/5]
‘Is That Your Hand?’: Another great bassline can be found here, with the fast-paced drums pulling everything together, keeping listeners on their toes. [4/5]
‘Swan the Dog’: The album comes to a close with ‘Swan the Dog’, a perfectly heavy ending that hopefully won’t be the last we hear from the Jesus Lizard just yet. [4/5]
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