The Jesus Lizard
Rack
Ipecac
Sep 13, 2024 Issue #73 - Maya Hawke and Nilüfer Yanya
Rack, the first album from post-hardcore legends The Jesus Lizard in 26 years, begins with a show of force: the hook-laden, up-tempo rocker “Hide & Seek” that functions as both lead single and album opener. Translation: if you were expecting a departure from the rough ‘n’ rowdy noise rock bludgeonings of Jesus Lizard of yore just because they’re now a group of 60-somethings, you were mistaken.
Youngins are more likely to be acquainted with their admirers, such as Mclusky, Chat Pile, and, yes, Nirvana, than their early ’90s classics Goat and Liar. Both showcased the band’s idiosyncratic melding of Duane Denison’s Texas-infused riffs, David Wm. Sims’ and Mac McNeilly’s punishing rhythm section, David Yow’s creepy, oft-unintelligible wailing, and the late Steve Albini’s stripped-back audio engineering.
Rack exists in the spirit of those records, capturing the band’s unhinged live energy while showcasing them at the top of their game compositionally. Yow’s lyrics carry an absurd, biting edge to them. On “Lord Godiva,” he inhabits a serial murderer who pees on his victims and dreams of shooting his balls off. On the confrontational “Grind,” he sings, “Keep pussing out ‘cause that’s what you love to do / Collect conflicting viewpoints for your stupid point of view.”
The back half of the record is where the band really catch fire, though, ripping through a slew of high-octane rockers from “Falling Down” through “Is That Your Hand?” The only real miss is “Armistice Day,” a tedious trudge of doom-rock that sticks out from the rest of the pack. In short, Rack comes without pretense: just four dudes in a room thrashing through heavy hitter after heavy hitter like a group of teenagers in their garage. It’s just that these dudes happen to be four of the most talented and creative weirdos ever to grace the underground rock scene. (www.thejesuslizard.bandcamp.com)
Author rating: 8/10
Average reader rating: 10/10
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