Classic Review: Acid Bath, "When the Kite String Pops"

Louisiana has proven time and time again to be home to scores of good bands, namely Exhorder, Crowbar, Down, Eyehategod, and many others, including Acid Bath, who in 1994 released one of the most overlooked classics of sludge metal, "When the Kite String Pops". It's an amazingly unique record by an amazingly unique band, and the fact that it's so overlooked is a sad one indeed.

A quick glance at the lyrics of Acid Bath's "When the Kite String Pops" reveals something right off the bat: This is not an album for the faint of heart. Tales of hard drug use, self-mutilation, madness, alcoholism, and some even more disturbing tales that are unsuitable for print are discussed in graphic detail, and any person unacquainted with heavy music would likely take one look at the lyric sheet and inquire "What on Earth is wrong with these people?". However, these dark lyrics are extremely fascinating, as reading them is like looking into a window of insanity. The fact that the lyrics are printed in the booklet as one massive, unpunctuated wall of text only enhances the experience of reading them, and interpreting them as a singular, stream-of-consciousness rant helps to reinforce the idea that the authors of these cursed scribes were not "all there", so to speak.

The vocals that deliver these twisted musings are absolutely perfect, courtesy of Dax Riggs. Riggs was a diverse vocalist who could deliver maddening screams one minute and David Bowie-if-David Bowie-was-possessed melodies the next. This dichotomy works best in songs like "Cheap Vodka", although some of the best moments on the album come whenever Riggs is using clean vocals almost exclusively, especially in the haunting ballad "Scream of the Butterfly", which is darkly catchy and, despite its soft approach, is far from an attempt at mainstream success. Another of these cleaner moments comes in the form of "Bones of Baby Dolls", which leads into the pulverizing "Cassie Eats Cockroaches", a juxtaposition that proves greatly effective.

Musically, Acid Bath were a surprisingly diverse outfit. Sludge metal is the prime influence, but "When the Kite String Pops" is loaded with variety, whether it's the punky "Cheap Vodka", the haunting "God Machine", or the crushing "Dr. Seuss is Dead", all of which are highlights of the album, although there isn't a bad song on the album, so to say that one song is a highlight over another would be somewhat unfair. Riffs are provided by Sammy Duet, who would go on to play in Goatwhore and Ritual Killer, and Mike Sanchez, and the two work perfectly as a team, whether they're assaulting the listener with sludgy dirges or melodic soloing that occurs in some of the album's mellower moments. The low-end is covered by Audie Pitre, who was tragically killed in a car accident following the release of Acid Bath's "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" album in 1997. His bass playing perfectly fits Acid Bath's doomy style, and he often uses distortion to further the sonic brutality on many of the songs.

The instruments blend perfectly with each other, and the production (handled by none other than D.R.I.'s Spike Cassidy) is top-notch. Even though one can hear every note played in crystal-clear fashion, the production doesn't sound sterile or lifeless, and the gritty vibe of the songs contained on the album is preserved. The guitar tone is breathtakingly razor-sharp, and the drums sound crisp and well-mixed. Sludge tends to benefit from a rawer production, but Acid Bath's "When the Kite String Pops" shows that one can have (relatively) clear production in extreme metal without removing any atmosphere that was originally intended. And what an atmosphere it is! This is an ambience of despair, the feeling when one has hit rock bottom due to the decisions they've made in their life, and it should go without saying that this is not an album to put on when it's bright and sunny outside and you feel like hitting up your nearest party.

"When the Kite String Pops" is obviously not an album for everybody, but anyone with an appreciation for sludge metal and a fascination for the morbid will find it to be one of the best albums of the nineties. Even if this type of music isn't your thing, you should at least check out "Scream of the Butterfly" and "Bones of Baby Dolls", as these acoustic songs are too beautiful to be passed up by anyone. Everyone else can take delight in the heavy, unique sludge made by one of the most disturbing bands of the mid nineties.

For more info: Acid Bath has been disbanded for over a decade, but you'll most likely be able to find "When the Kite String Pops" at various record stores in San Antonio, and, as always, start with Hogwild Records.