Black Light Burns is equally inspired by heavy-handed hard rock,
primordial punk, ’80s goth, and melodic radio pop. Initial proof was
found in the 2007 debut CD, Cruel Melody, and this sophomore
release reiterates the premise with ten thoughtful covers. For good
measure, the band throws in a handful of experimental originals that
range from gentle keyboard motifs to horror-movie music to brutal
skronk.
Black Light Burns is led by Wes Borland, the former guitarist for
Limp Bizkit, who displayed his considerable taste by quitting that
flash-in-the-pan group early. The album kicks off with an aggressive
sprint through Lard’s “Forkboy,” which isn’t a huge leap, but soon
enough, Black Light Burns is applying the same assaultive, distorted
art-noise style to Love and Rockets’ “So Alive” and to a surprisingly
tuneful and faithful reinterpretation of “Hungry Like the Wolf.” This
is discord and rhyme.
Covers of songs by Swans, the Jesus Lizard, and Sisters of Mercy are
pretty much what you’d expect, which doesn’t negate their entertaining
appeal. But Borland and co. also present radical versions of PJ
Harvey’s “Rid of Me” and Fiona Apple’s “On the Bound.”
For good measure, there’s a fun and cathartic take on “Search and
Destroy” by Iggy and the Stooges and a cover of a song from
Borland’s other post-Bizkit band, Big Dumb Face. (Adrenaline)
