A penchant for playing less than stellar shows and former drummer Nick Jago's knack for causing pointless raucous cost the band whatever momentum they had going for it. Not to mention the band's third album Howl, a low key folk and blues affair, turned away many of the converted. It soon was becoming abundantly clear that the band didn't care about the sanctity of rock the way some had hoped for.
Now with a new stick woman in Leah Shapiro (The Ravonettes), remaining members Robert Hayes and Peter Been once again take to the highway of riff rattled tunes and outcast outlaws with their latest effort, Beat The Devil's Tattoo.
A mixed bag of sorts, Devil's Tattoo is akin to Wolfmother's Cosmic Egg in the sense that it's the sound of a new look band trying to escape the shadows of their old shell. Maturity is one of the hardest things to do in rock and while an earnest attempt is worth the effort, the payoff rarely seems come off as something natural.
Much of this album is filled with sludgy sonics and domineering overtones. Paired with an hour long running time, Devil's Tattoo can be an exhaustive listen. Much of the songs are experiments in slow motion groove that offer up nothing of substance. It's literally like trying to listen to the sound of paint drying.
Some bright spots exist amongst the dull and bleak. The title track is an effective swamp stomp that is a perfect mixture of old school edge mixed with modern day production gloss. "Mama Taught Me Better" is home to their biggest, baddest and meanest riff of their career - and with a song that pays homage to Mama, it had better be.
A mixed bag of sorts, Devil's Tattoo is akin to Wolfmother's Cosmic Egg in the sense that it's the sound of a new look band trying to escape the shadows of their old shell. Maturity is one of the hardest things to do in rock and while an earnest attempt is worth the effort, the payoff rarely seems come off as something natural.
Much of this album is filled with sludgy sonics and domineering overtones. Paired with an hour long running time, Devil's Tattoo can be an exhaustive listen. Much of the songs are experiments in slow motion groove that offer up nothing of substance. It's literally like trying to listen to the sound of paint drying.
Some bright spots exist amongst the dull and bleak. The title track is an effective swamp stomp that is a perfect mixture of old school edge mixed with modern day production gloss. "Mama Taught Me Better" is home to their biggest, baddest and meanest riff of their career - and with a song that pays homage to Mama, it had better be.
Perhaps the biggest statement is the album closer "Half-State". A 10 minute (yes... 10 minutes) steam roller that is the most epic BRMC track to date, it actually succeeds in summing up the band's entire body of work. It's ominous, rugged, heavy and at times forgettable and overcooked. How many times must ambitious minds prove my point? Bigger is not always better, and in the case of Devil's Tattoo, bigger is boring.
Grade: C-
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