by Scott Yohe
The Jesus Lizard are legends. This is a fact you probably already know, but it needs to be said. Any band would be lucky to exist as long as The Jesus Lizard, let alone release one of their best albums 37 years into their career. Here we are with Rack, their latest album after a 26-year hiatus, yet even after such a long break, the band hasn’t missed a step. They still have their trademark intense post-hardcore sound, they're still loud and in-your-face, and, most importantly, they still don’t care what you think. It’s always refreshing to see a legendary band stay true to themselves without any compromises. Rack should be recognized as one of the greatest comebacks in rock music and is proof that a band like The Jesus Lizard is incapable of doing any wrong.
Like all their records, Rack continues the trend of four-letter titles. While it may seem like a small detail, the consistency is a pleasure, and if Rack is anything, it’s consistent. In a blazing 36 minutes, the band never lets up, delivering song after song of pummeling riffs, thumping bass, pounding drums, and insane vocals. Lead singer David Yow hasn’t changed a bit since their last album. He’s still as wild as ever on the mic. Duane Denison brings his signature obtuse guitar riffs to every track, Mac McNeilly’s drums sound like someone beating up a trashcan (and I mean that as high praise), and David Sims’ bass sounds like it was crafted in a junkyard (also a compliment).
Rack opens with the lead single, “Hide & Seek,” and if there was ever a perfect way to kick off a reunion album, this is it. It’s a high-octane track that never stops for a second, with Denison sounding like a man on the run. The next song, “Armistice Day,” slows things down but keeps The Jesus Lizard intensity intact. The slower pace lets you sink into the groove and get as comfortable as a Jesus Lizard song will allow. “Grind” lives up to its name, with Denison’s guitar grinding up and down as Yow hollers about how the band saw everything wrong with society coming. “What If?” is another slower song, featuring a minor instrumental freakout that showcases the band at their most sinister. “Alexis Feels Sick” is quintessential Jesus Lizard—it could easily fit on any of their classic albums without skipping a beat. On “Falling Down,” Yow proves that after all these years, his voice still has the power to completely freak out, while Denison, Sims, and McNeilly lock in towards the end, sounding so in sync it’s absurd. “Moto(R)” is aptly named—it sounds like the band hotwired a stolen car and took off racing. Rack ends on a high note with “Swan the Dog,” a frantic song that showcases the band’s strengths as well as any of their classics.
It’s easy to be wary of bands reuniting and releasing new music. You might find yourself comparing their new material to the music you've had years to absorb or expect less-than-stellar results. With The Jesus Lizard and Rack, you don’t need to worry. This is a band that knows exactly who they are and the kind of music they want to make. They deliver on every single track and probably wouldn’t care if they didn’t. Rack is a half an hour of blistering noise, leaving no room for disappointment. If you’re a Jesus Lizard fan, you owe it to yourself to listen to Rack. If you’re unsure, you still owe it to yourself to give it a try. Just make sure to listen as loud as possible.