One listen to the fantastic new album from rock veterans Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will assuredly give you faith that the death of rock and roll has been grossly exaggerated. The band’s eighth album, Wrong Creatures, is a genuine, yet mature punch to the gut as the band continues the sonic direction of Specter At The Feast (2013) and Beat the Devil’s Tattoo (2010). Nearly fifteen years in, the band are continuing to let their sound evolve into continued relevancy, without fully embracing the “dad rock” vibes of so many. The guitar crunch and hazy vocals are still there, but they are perhaps more earnest than ever. It could be a response to drummer Leah Shapiro’s brain surgery, or the fact they had an unusual amount of time to finish the project. “Every record gets a little harder figuring out what to say, trying not to repeat yourself,” shares Peter Hayes (guitar, vocals). “We beat the shit out of ourselves trying to come up with something meaningful.”
The album starts with their signature haunting wall of sound intro before launching into “Spook”, which can be described as a rumination on the current state of the world complete with a tempered guitar crunch. “It takes a dead end soul to kill a dead end heart,” sings a band that continues to walk the line of lyrical ambiguity. This might be why so many fans devote themselves to their rock and roll religion. They are free to paint into their ear buds whatever they feel the lyrics mean, while being convinced the song is for them specifically.
“Haunt” is probably the most aptly named track on the album as it unfolds with an outlaw country style guitar tone. The track dips and peaks with extraordinary nimbleness before fading into vocals that would make Trent Reznor take notice. Tracks like “Echo” have come to be expected from the band. It is the slow burner they are known for crafting, and on Wrong Creatures, the group are at their peak. Jams like these are proof the band have crafted a brave and relevant take on the rock ballad. BRMC walk that line of cocky and beauty in a way few bands can.
“I’m a shattered heart,” is mumbled out in the album standout “Questions of Faith” that continues a different guitar tone that is prevalent on this album, and that which sets it apart from earlier releases. The term Psych Rock might be used to describe tracks like this one as well as “Calling Them All Away”. Again, we see the band breaking out of their straight generic rock box and aspiring for more. This is done with gorgeous precision.
No BRMC album would be complete without a phenomenal closer, and Wrong Creatures does not disappoint. The whispered piano ballad “All Rise” is a steady build towards the end of a courageous album that turns critical praise on its head.
The group will be touring extensively with the release and you can catch the dates below:
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB 2018 TOUR
January 15 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
January 16 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
January 18 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
January 19 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
January 20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
January 21 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
January 23 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
January 24 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
January 26 Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
January 27 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
January 29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
January 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
January 31 Boston, MA @ Royale
February 2 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
February 5 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
February 6 Toronto, ON @ Rebel
February 7 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
February 9 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
February 10 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
February 11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
February 12 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
February 13 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
February 15 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
February 16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
February 18 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
February 19 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
February 20 Seattle, WA @ The Show Box
February 22 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
February 23 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
February 24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
