Album Review: Murder By Death - 'Red Of Tooth And Claw'

Opening track ‘I’m Comin’

Home’ sets the scene beautifully with Adam Turla’s simple, country

style guitar picking and brooding vocals launching into one of the albums

rockier sounding songs, with a catchy chorus and genuine intensity giving

the feeling that not only are these guys amazing musicians who know

exactly what they want to do, but they also have a heap of fun doing

it.  

But for me things really fall into place when ‘Ball And Chain’ comes

staggering into the picture. This song is stupidly good. Imagine if

Johnny Cash was the devil and he rode singing through the American Midwest

some time around the 1800’s on the skeleton of a horse, trailed by

a slew of harlots and hucksters playing instruments made from the bones

of dead dogs. Overly dramatic? Fuck you, that’s what it sounds like. 

From here on things rollick along with a similar feeling, without ever

becoming repetitive or tired sounding, which would seemingly be such

an easy trap to fall into. But that relates to what I mentioned previously

about this being a band who know exactly what they want. It never sounds

contrived or affected or gimmicky, just haunting, fun, and totally unique. 

Closer ‘Spring Break 1899’ wraps things up perfectly, the addition

of piano and cellist Sarah Balliet performing at her epic, orchestral

best is in my opinion, the finest example on this release of the talent

and diversity on offer here, prompting me to listen to this thing start

to finish again straight away, and curse myself for not getting into

them sooner.

Don’t be a judgmental halfwit like me. Forgive this band for having

the lousiest name in history and your clemency won’t go unrewarded,

I swear!!!

1. I’m Comin’ Home 

2. Ball And Chain 

3. Rumbrave 

4. Fuego! 

5. Theme (For Ennio Morricone) 

6. A Second Opinion 

7. Steal Away 

8. Ash 

9. The Black Spo