The Atomic Bitchwax - 3 Review
by Travis Becker
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Not too many so-called side projects survive to a fourth release. The whole idea of a side project suggests a one-off type quality, on which a musician locked into the framework of another, more constraining band, is able to express a particular idea or side of him or herself. The Atomic Bitchwax was initially dubbed such a project, as members of Monster Magnet and the by then defunct, Godspeed, got together and jammed away. Defying convention, the Atomic Bitchwax has soldiered on through breakups, bad reviews, and now the departure of founding member Ed Mundell. (If it was an Ed Mundell side project, what is it now?) Throughout the process, AB has remained unconcerned about their image and adventurous in their music. Now, with the release of III on Meteorcity Records, they continue to cement their place among the elite of the heavy retro rock and roll movement they helped to ignite. III is at the same time wildly different from any of the previous output the band has released, but unlike jamming collectives that pop up in the scene (see Desert Sessions recordings) the sound of the record is unmistakably Atomic Bitchwax.
Starting out with a slight disappointment for long time fans, III is the first Atomic Bitchwax release not to feature a woman in some stage of frontal nudity on its cover. That bummer aside, III does feature some of the best songs the band has recorded since their debut in 1999, and the playing of new guitarist, Finn Ryan (also of Stoner band, Core), adds new life and a whole different perspective to the journeyman riff-rockers. Ryan also adds another voice to the Atomic Bitchwax, singing on several tracks. Ed Mundell was a large part of the success of AB, but towards the end of II and for some of the new tracks on Spit Blood, it was apparent that his heart really wasn't in it fully anymore. Ryan's guitar tone and style is totally different. Still manic enough for some of the instrumental passages for which the Atomic Bitchwax is famous, but more reigned in all the same, and of course still heavy as hell. "The Destroyer" pushes the disc into motion and the momentum never really stops. The cover of "Maybe I'm a Leo" is a nice touch in the middle and recalls the equally engaging cover of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" from "Spit Blood." As the album heads for pay dirt, the indictment in song of "The Passenger" takes the trip on a slightly darker turn. The lyrics suggest anger at an individual departing and are the only lyrics included in the packaging. One cannot assume this is directed at Mundell, but it seems a little suggestive. Regardless, the vocal effect is stellar.
The biggest difference between Atomic Bitchwax's earlier output and III is the maturity in their songwriting. The band employs much more traditional song structuring on this release and ultimately it helps them. Earlier albums contained long instrumental passages and lots of experimenting even within more normal sounding songs, and while these diversions were often exciting and fresh (particularly on the debut) they could also bog their records down unnecessarily (especially on II). The overwhelmingly prevalent, Bolin-esque, flashy solos are mostly gone from III although some do pop up throughout, as on "Dark Chi" and "If I had a Gun" , only to be replaced by the challenging riffs of "Force Field" and more controlled lead playing. The songs are more of Earth and less of space in a way, the astral elements are much less pronounced, while a dirtier, boogie-type sound emerges, like on "You Oughta Know".
For fans of the band, III is probably the most interesting disc the band has done since the debut although some may be alienated by the increasingly straight forward approach, but for newcomers this may be their most accessible and listenable album. It's hard to feel betrayed, though, this isn't so much the band changing to meet the demands of commercial success or the aesthetics of their particular scene as it is growth and necessity. As a side project, it's almost demanded that this record consist strictly of artistic expression, but at the end of the day, as the music in the mind of the musicians matures and advances, so does the band, and without Mundell it can't be the same band anyway. III is a great listen, but a return to form in the cover art department would be welcome all the same.
CD Info and Links
The Atomic Bitchwax - 3 Label:Meteor City
Rating:
Track Listing:
1. Destroyer, The
2. You Oughta Know
3. You Can't Win
4. Dark Chi
5. Maybe I'm A Leo
6. Force Field
7. Going Guido
8. Passenger, The
9. If I Had A Gun
10. Half As Much
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