Customer Reviews

Pagan Terrorist Tactics

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's no need for comparisons here. Acid Bath did not sound like Soundgarden, and Dax Riggs does not sound like Chris Cornell. Both were good bands with talented frontman but the comparisons are rather feeble. They were both heavy bands interested in the darker side of psychedelia, but it doesn't go any farther than that.

Now then, Paegan Terrorism Tactics is one of the best albums of the 1990's. The songwriting is at an extremely high level here, well-constructed and well-played. It's impossible for me to *not* get lost in the glorious atmosphere of this music. Call it doom metal, psych-rock, grunge, goth, heavy blues... it doesn't matter, like all great music this transcends stylstic boundries and music critic vocabulary. The only thing that matters is the music itself, and the music is undoubtedly great.

This band's name is appropriate. Definitely sounds like they take a lot of acid. But whether they're on endless drugs or not, they've made a great drug album. This product of the Louisiana swamps is one of those albums that has to be described with lots of slashes: it's death/doom/blues/psychedelic/whatever metal. Lots of sludgy doom riffs, death-style tempo changes and evil lyrics, and an overall bluesy, psychedelic vibe. The vocals are cool, doing a good switch-off between death screaming and sorrowful crooning. Lyrics are lovely poetic evocations of hatred, torture, and death. A great album by a singularly strange band. Unfortunately, bassist Audie Pitre was killed in a car accident after this album came out, leaving the future of the band in doubt.

If somebody told you there was an album released almost 10 years ago that was a near flawless masterpiece and you've never heard of it, you probably wouldn't believe them. If the album was so great you would've heard about it by now, right? Normally, that would be true, but not in this case.
For whatever reason, whether it was bad distribution by the record label or the dominating trends at the time, "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" never gained the popularity it should have. The album is on par with greats like "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden or "Blues for the Red Sun" by Kyuss or "Lucifuge" by Danzig, only more unique and inventive.
Then again, with a cover by suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian and bizarre and twisted lyrics, maybe it's not such a surprise that this album remained deep underground. But, that's part of the beauty of it. The singer can get away with singing "hey-yeah" as long as the subject matter includes murder. Lines like "I scream, you scream, we all scream for morphine" or "go, go, go! Blood makes the grass grow" gives you an idea of how they use a pop facade to convey generally offensive themes. The irony is part of the magic.
As for the music, it flows perfectly through many stylistic changes and doesn't lose one ounce of power in doing so because everything is placed perfectly. The dualistic vocals are amazing and match the lyrical themes perfectly. Ultra-heavy sludge power chords dominate the album, but they can speed things up before you even know what's going on. Of course, all this would mean nothing if it isn't held together by great riffs, but there are plenty of those also.
Many albums have been called a "psychedelic bloodbath," but this album deserves that description more than any other album. "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" is more proof that you cannot be a legend in your own time.

One of the reviewers to post shortly before me claimed that Acid Bath was not only "Not groundbreaking" but also "sludge". I am not going to insult your opinion, nor unreasonably ridicule you. However, why must opposition to this band's popularity be so violent? First of all to compare Acid Bath to Soundgarden is blasphemy... They are nothing alike, and Dax's voice has a better, less nasally range with a much more effective scream for his style of music, which by the way is completely different from Cornell's.

Anyway this album rocks.. There are a few good reviews on here already, so I'll spare you. It's the same deal as on The Kite Sting Pops, and it proves that you can't have too much of a good thing.

One final note, keep in mind that Acid Bath was around in 1992... They defined this new wave of deathmetal, whether you want to think so or not. No one has surpassed Dax's lyrical style as of yet, nor are they likely to anytime soon, but God knows they all keep on trying.

Acid Bath was referred to me by a friend. Buying this CD on his advice was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Quality on this level in music is incredibly difficult to find.

I can't sufficiently describe the absolute perfection of this CD, so I'll just say go buy it. You'll never regret it and you will be a better person for it.

Acid Bath is a band i really don't know that much about. They're a really melodic, heavy band that can fuse different genres into each song, and in saying that, they're also very creative. Plus, my Girlfriend likes them alot lot (Mmhmm). Vocalist, Dax Riggs can really scream (Hence the reference to the band "Eyehategod", which he reminds me of when he does scream..), and when he sings melodically and slowly, sounds alot like Phil Anselmo from Down/Pantera/Superjoint Ritual, among others.

As a whole i think this band would fit in the Hard Rock/Metal genre. Songs like "Paegan Love Song", "Bleed Me An Ocean", "Diab Soule", "Locust Spawning", "13 Fingers" and "New Corpse", are the heaviest songs on this album. The songs inbetween, like "Graveflower", "New Death Sensation", one of my favourite tracks "Venus Blue", and "Dead Girl" show the melodic creativity within this band.

Acid Bath are very talented, and they can create songs that make you want to sing (Or scream) along with them, or can actually make you sad. Dax Riggs is in my top 10, of the most talented vocalists in Metal. The music can go from acoustic, to all out sludgey riffs and "Eyehategod" type screaming, then to "Down"-like melodic riffs, all in the space of one song sometimes.

I think if you enjoy bands like Crowbar, Pantera, Down, Sixty Watt Shaman or Eyehategod, you will really enjoy Acid Bath. Unique, Creative, Melodic, Heavy and Talented. Acid Bath are all those things and alot more. This album is easily 5/5 and highly recommended.

Well, I gave this one a 4. It is in fact my all-time favorite band, and I gave it a 4 simply due to the fact that I dig Kite String much more. However, to compare this band to Soundgarden is way waaaaayy off. Even to say this is an attempt to sound like them tells me somone hasnt really listened to Acid Bath and simply doesnt get it, with all due respect.
For those reading reviews and considering buying either Acid Bath release, PLEASE ignore the Soundgarden note. Listen to the tunes and you will clearly see this is NOT sludge metal.
While I would be more apt to recommend Kite String (thie first release, this one does the job.
So, read reviews and whatever, but ultimately make the decision yourself, and don't be influenced by ignorant comparisons. Dax Riggs is without a doubt more talented than the now Audioslave frontman. There is no one to compare his vocal style to. Way heavier than Soundgarden as well. You arent gonna hear Acid Bath on the radio....unless you get satellite radio. Anyway, I couldnt believe what I saw in one of these reviews, so I had to say something.....THAT WAS BLASPHEMY! LOL!

If your looking for a metal album to burn a fat one to, then this is your disc. Its not WHEN THE KITE STRING POPS part 2 but it is still a classic metal album in its own right. Any metal fan that gives it a listen will enjoy anything by Acid Bath and will be glad that they added them to their collections.

There really is no easy way to describe the phenomenon that was Acid Bath. Although they only made 2 albums (this being the second), they created music that is a combination of Blues, Psychedelic, Death metal, Sludge, Elemental, Doom and just about whatever. Dax Riggs adds an almost poetry like dimension to the band with his lyrics and singing style. This album has it all, fast in your face metal songs with double bass and guitar solos (Locust Spawning) to the slow acoustic and beautiful ballads (Dead Girl, New Death Sensation) and even some really creepy poems featuring voice distortion (Old Skin and the Untitled Track). If you like a variety of styles and elements in your Metal, then this is for you. Truly artistic and unique Acid Bath was one of the few bands that you could title as original because there hasn't been anything like them since. After the release of this album their bassist was killed in a nasty car crash and they decided to call it quits and go their separate ways forming several new bands.

Interesting Fact: The album cover artwork was painted by Dr. Kevorkian.

Acid Bath: R.I.P.

If It werent for Acid Bath, where would metal Be now?, Acid Bath stands above nearly any metal band that I can think of, Dax's Lyrics can drive You insane and The Guitar and Bass Riffs can tear You apart, "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" holds some of the greatest songs I have ever heard, songs such as "Bleed Me an Ocean" and "GraveFlower" are just amazing, dark and Yet Beautifull, Lyrics such as "Dying Felt so god d*mn good today" - (Pagan Love Song) and "The Ghost of a pale Girl is Solemnly Following Me, Will She Follow Me into the sea?" - (Grave Flower) Will Leave You asking "Can they possibly Get any Deeper/Darker?", all I can say is Check this Album out, especially if You are a fan of Very Dark/Heavy/Original Music and even poetry, Everything about this band is amazing, Dax's Lyrics and Vocals, Mike's Guitar Riffs, Sammy's Guitar Riffs and Vocals, Jimmy's awesome drumming, and especially Audie's bass Riffs and Screams, I highly Recommend "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" (Cover art by Dr. Jack Kevorkian) and Also "When The Kite String Pops" (Cover art by John Wayne Gacey), You may have heard it before, But If Edger Allen Poe were still alive, He'd Join Acid Bath. Acid Bath Rules!, See For Your Self...
-Gary Perdue