the death rattles - The Death Rattles

The Death Rattles

The Death Rattles
self-released; 2014

3.9 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

The Death Rattles pretty much picked the perfect name for their music. Their debut self-titled album The Death Rattles explores the band’s journey from the muddy banks of the Murray River to the city and will evoke images of the smoky bayous in New Orleans, a withering carcass of a cobra and the brilliant HBO television series True Detective. It’s a fun album to listen to and really does feel like its going somewhere, The band as a whole has a lot of energy that made me feel like taking some swigs of moonshine and then imposing my dominance against a couple of gators in a wrestling match.

The album opens up in the infested waters of Murray River aka “Telephone.” There's a whole lot to enjoy about this song whether it’s the country noir sing-along type vocal melody or the loose organic sound of the band. It’s easily some of the best vocal harmonies on the album so eat it up.

“Bone Dry Sparrow” is a bit more straightforward rock n’ roll. It’s the type of song you might hear the band playing in a bar with too many bikers and pool tables. “Flying Home” opens with a creative riff being played on an acoustic and a solid vocal melody. I thoroughly approve of the snare work the drummer implements to drive the energy of the song. 

What says crawfish, belt buckles and shady dealings more than a banjo? Well, I can think of a couple things but that didn’t stop The Death Rattles from bringing down the house with dueling banjos and guitars on “Born Wolf.” ”Driveway” is The Death Rattles version of a ballad while “Crying Moon” is a down home and dirty rock song.

The band cleans up with a nostalgic acoustic number entitled “Return.” No vocals, just some attractive string work.

The Death Rattles pretty much kick ass. Throughout the album they attempt and pull off a style that not many other bands would even think about. Now go buy their record and eat some gumbo ya ya. 

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