Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures (CD)

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will release their 8th studio album Wrong Creatures. The album is produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Arcade Fire) and recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles over the past few years. The band has taken many unlikely twists and turns, yet always remaining focused on the music and returning again to edge of the stage.

Wrong Creatures returns to the core of BRMC’s alchemy, yet plunges the knife in even further. From the Cave-esque murder balladry of “Haunt” to the garage punk of “Little Thing Gone Wild,” it runs the gamut allowing the band to flex every muscle in their armor. They remain opaque about the songs’ greater meanings, fearful of past misunderstandings.

“I find myself writing about death a lot,” says Hayes. “I find myself having a discussion with death, which sounds dark. For me, it’s dark humor.” Talking about mortality allows Hayes to explore life’s great mistakes and regrets. Channeling them through rolling riffs and dirge-laden rhythms that stir the pot before reaching boiling point.

Ultimately, the band may well be survivors of an era where rock’n’roll can often be overshadowed by dance pop, and garish commercialism. Robert Levon Been; “We are truly an island – come hell or high water, so it’s usually best to dress accordingly. Though I’m not sure what the proper attire is when drowning in fire. But leather usually goes with everything.”