Raised-in-Carolina is a blog dedicated to music, film, culture, fashion, the arts and everything inbetween from the view point of two editors and guest writers.
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BRMC - BEAT THE DEVIL'S TATTOO
On the 8th March 2010, one of our most eagerly awaited albums of the year was released. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has again, and to no surprise, created an era defining record, ‘Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’. A new line up with an existing sound that doesn’t seem possible, but it works perfectly. Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been (existing members of the San Francisco rock band) are now joined by Leah Shapiro (in replacement of Nick Jago, who left in 2008 to focus on his solo career).
I’m personally a huge fan of all BRMC’s previous work but ‘Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’ feels as if they are going straight back to their roots, back to the days of their debut album. The dirty, raw sound of ‘The Jesus and Mary Chain’ combined with early ‘Velvet Underground’ echo throughout the 16 track LP. This may be down to them being creatively free and for the second time in their career as garage rock pioneers they are working from their own label, ‘Abstract Dragon’.
'Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’ opens with the title track, a sadistic sound with overwhelming riffs and eerie vocals, three minutes and forty seven seconds of pure unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll. An opener that should make any listener stop and take note. To follow, we are lead into a buildup of chants and percussion, ‘Conscience Killer’, along with the name, doesn’t disappoint either.
The highlight for me, and trust me it was hard to select one, is ‘War Machine’.
A heavily distorted opening guitar solo from Hayes, penetrates through with reverb.
The album does have some slower numbers; a breather if you will from the beautiful
chaos that proceeds and succeeds it, ‘Long Way Down’ is craftsmanship at its
best. Beautifully formed, this song shows that these San Fran rockers aren’t
all about the music angst and really know how to construct great ballads.
The album ends as it started. ‘Martyr’ drums home the bands roots of American
Neo-Psychodelia mixed with a touch of Blues and effectively the existence of
BRMC perfectly.
With the tour fully underway, my only question is, why haven’t I heard this kind of record from a modern rock band for some time? My only realistic answer is, other bands aren’t BRMC.
'Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’ opens with the title track, a sadistic sound with overwhelming riffs and eerie vocals, three minutes and forty seven seconds of pure unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll. An opener that should make any listener stop and take note. To follow, we are lead into a buildup of chants and percussion, ‘Conscience Killer’, along with the name, doesn’t disappoint either.
With the tour fully underway, my only question is, why haven’t I heard this kind of record from a modern rock band for some time? My only realistic answer is, other bands aren’t BRMC.