The chances are that if you are reading this, it means one of two things. You are either a long standing Murder By Death fan and want to know if the new record cuts the mustard, or quite possibly you have no idea who Murder By Death are. More than likely it will gravitate towards the latter, as it has always seemed that even when Murder By Death had some friends in high places (Geoff Rickly of Thursday released their fantastically named debut album ‘Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing’ on his Eyeball label, and Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance contributed guest vocals on their second album) they have always sat on the cusp of great things for the last 15 years, and never really gained the traction they deserve.
If you have been a fan of Murder By Death, and are familiar with their back catalogue, then you will surely be in agreement that the band was at their apex with their stunning 2006 album ‘In Bocca Al Lupo’, and essentially set the benchmark for the bands sound. So nearly 10 years later, where does their recent crowd-funded effort ‘Big Dark Love’ fit into their long career arc?
The bands creative aesthetic has always been centred around the conceptual story telling of primary songwriter Adam Turla, and the brooding cello playing of Sarah Balliet, and much like their previous work ‘Big Dark Love’ is no exception. However opener ‘I Shot An Arrow’ sees the band move into a more expansive territory, which carries on through ‘Strange Eyes’ and shows a more melodic and uplifting Murder By Death. Gone are the former Tom Waits-isms that were ever-present on their earlier output, and replaced with lush harmonies over rattling snare rolls and percussive waves.
While the music may be edging towards a lighter shade on ‘Big Dark Love’, lyrically Adam Turla is still a master of arts when it comes to focusing on the darker side of life as he croons “Down by the rivers ditch, its where I die. My body was broken, my wrists were tied” on the haunting murder ballad ‘Dream In Red’. As the album continues it is thick on roots based Americana, particularly with ‘Send Me Home, and the infectious country shuffle of ‘Natural Pearl’.
The negative aspect of ‘Big Dark Love’ is that for all the new ground it sees the band cover, it doesn’t feel like a classic Murder By Death record. In the past they have provided a soundtrack to empty cigarette packets and whiskey-soaked loneliness, where as ‘Big Dark Love’ almost feels a bit too uplifting for them. That may sound a bizarre concept to deliberately want darkness and despair from an album, but that’s usually what Murder By Death do best. However they do revisit there past glory on the albums closing opus ‘Hunted’ which is as cold as winter fog.
Overall ‘Big Dark Love’ is a solid album, and while the familiar Murder By Death characteristics are few and far between, the composition is probably their most ambitious to date, and the song writing can’t be faulted. It’s not an essential starting point for a new Murder By Death fan, as that should always be ‘In Bocca Al Lupo’, but after 15 years in the game ‘Big Dark Love’ shows they are still the unsung heroes of underground rock music.
GLEN BUSHELL