Customer Reviews

When the Kite String Pops

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The term "underground classic" is one that gets thrown around quite a bit, but Acid Bath's When the Kite String Pops is one recording that can lay almost undisputed claim to the title. Unfortunately, the underground is just as full of ripoffs and one-trick ponies as the mainstream (well, ok, maybe not quite that full), but Acid Bath were one band that managed to stand alone with a distinctive sound that was decidedly ahead of its time in 1994. Between their stunningly tight and efficient musicianship and their flair for variety, one can only imagine what these guys would've accomplished if not for their early demise. When the Kite String Pops is a highly potent slab of controlled substance-fuelled death rock at its most discordantly evil, with songs chock full of tempo and vocal changes, but its unpredictability only serves to enhance the harrowing mood that persists througout its running time. At times brutally scathing, at other times hauntingly melodic, but always profoundly unsettling, this album is a psycho nightmare of epic proportions, with its fourteen pieces of nightmarish sonic impressionism pushing it to about an hour of nearly nonstop punishment.

Although Acid Bath did show some superficial resemblances to such southern metal brethren as Soilent Green and Crowbar, their sound was still their own creation, one that liberally incorporated elements of sludge, thrash, grind, and rock. Few bands have managed to convert angst and disaffection into great music-Neurosis and Godflesh are prominent exceptions-because such emotions tend to result in whiny, self-indulgent tripe, but Acid Bath succeeded where others have failed because their focus never deviated from creativity and songwriting. It also doesn't hurt that the band had Dax Riggs, easily one of the most distinctive metal vocalists of recent years, out in front. Befitting Acid Bath's abrasive sound and nihilistic lyrics, Dax alternated between an acidic, face-melting howl and a cleaner singing voice that managed to be every bit as disturbing as his more "metal" vocals.

While the overall mood of this album is one of menacing rawness and insanity, that doesn't mean Acid Bath weren't methodical in their approach, as the precision and eclecticism to be found here are uniformly impressive. Just check out the opener Blue, which effortlessly mixes slow, grinding torment with head-banging thrash-metal passages and plenty of Dax's doomy singing. From there, the album rarely lets up, as there are a couple of downcast acoustic numbers in the form of Scream of the Butterfly and What Color is Death, but those are definitely exceptions to the rule. Most of the songs on When the Kite String Pops are musical and emotional roller coasters, filled with intricate, oscillating riff patterns, frantic drumming, and malevolently pounding basslines. If forced at gunpoint to pick a favorite tune I'd have to go with the utterly unsettling Jezebel, but every song here is fully realized and brilliantly executed, a rarity for an album with this many tracks. If you're into extreme music, this album is a must-buy. And even if you're not, and you just want to hear something with some true emotion and intelligence behind it, you should still give it a shot. Demented as it may seem on the surface, in a music world dominated by brainless mainstream tripe, When the Kite String Pops managed to rise to the level of art.

I've never bothered to write a review for a CD on Amazon before, partially because I've never had the ambition, but mostly because I know nobody will care what I have to say anyway. However in this instance I feel it is my civic duty to expound on the absolute brilliance of this collection of 14 songs.

I picked this disc up on a whim from a seedy, hole-in-the-wall record store about 6 or 7 years ago. I'd heard the name "Acid Bath" floating around and the J.W. Gacy artwork caught my eye as I thumbed through the metal bin. For 10 bucks, I figured, I might as well. I was 16 and had nothing better to spend my money on. Little did I know at the time I'd be making the most worthwhile music purchase of my life.

Anything I can say in an internet review of the content of this album is a travesty, and couldn't come close to doing it justice. The only thing I can think to say is that I had never before and have never since heard a selection of music crafted so flawlessly (outside of Mozart). There is not a single low point, not a single moment throughout the course of this CD that I would even consider skipping or passing by.

Raw and polished, discordant and harmonious, When The Kite String Pops runs the gamut in all forms of sonic genius. It demands attention and respect from the listener (and a little chemical assistance doesn't hurt), but the reward is an incredible musical experience. Completely flawless.

Possibly one of the best albums I've ever listened to. However, Acid Bath is certainly an acquired taste. Brilliantly and beautifully dark and melodic, every song on The Kite String Pops brings something powerful to the table. The band's own style varies, more or less, from song to song with lighter melodies like The Bones of Baby Dolls, and Scream of the Butterfly, and then deathmetal masterpieces like The God Machine and Toubabo Koomi.

I won't rate every individual song, Acid Bath is one of those bands that everyone will have a different favorite. I will tell you my two personal favorites on this disc are Cheap Vodka and Bones of Baby Dolls. All of Dax Riggs's lyrics are written by an unmistakable lyrical style that has its roots in various death metal bands, but also strangely in Leonard Cohen, T-Rex, and the Beatles. The blend of moody lyrical styles with Dax Riggs's own darkness produces something truly unique.

I have heard criticisms of the use of instruments in Acid Bath. I disagree with these, personally, as clearly the drummer is very talented as is demonstrated in many of the songs obviously showcasing him. Mike and Sammy are brilliant guitarists, both of them, with different flares and flavors of darkness... Sammy more deathmetal, and Mike more expert at melodic and smooth dark guitar riffs. Audie, may he rest in peace, used a heavy pick when playing bass, which produced a unique and mysterious, mechanical sound that could only work so well with Acid Bath's music. Plus, you want credibility? These guys lived in Swamps south of New Orleans, in houses on stilts where walking outside meant looking out for alligators. That is just badass.

In short, I won't allow my bias to slip through and declare that Acid Bath is the best band of all time, that's a mistake to say. However, I will say that in my opinion, they are a great band, and one of my very favorites for their unique grindcore/darkwave/deathmetal/hardcore/swamp rock style. I recomend a look-see at Acid Bath, and if you don't like it after hearing the album a few times, fine, put away and save it for a rainy day. The more you hear it, the more you'll one day grow to love it.

Every once in a while, I will bother to listen to the radio. When I force myself to do this, I am quickly reminded of why I rarely do: horrible mainstream metal bands. It seems as though all they sing about is how bad their lives are. Acid Bath manages to express their sentiments through, dare I say, poetic lyrics. The result is a truly disturbing album. Although Acid Bath manages to achieve what many metal bands can only make shoddy attempts at, they further distance themselves from the crowd by adding Cajun flavor to their music. This influence is exhibited both lyrically (Jezebel) and musically (Bones of Baby Dolls). I think the common description of the music is "sludgy," which makes perfect sense. Many of the songs begin with a slow first minute or two, then quickly speed-up. All in all, When the Kite String Pops is a splendid metal album. I suggest that if you are a metal fan but are looking for something slightly different from what you already have, go with Acid Bath.

I haven't been impressed much by anything recent so I just listen to some of the old stuff, like this album, which for some reason not too many people are familiar with. It's southern-tinged sludgy doom metal with some death/thrash metal riffs, psychedelic solos, distorted hardcore shouts, and a grunge attitude, especially in the laid-back harmonic vocals and poetic lyrics. To call this a combination of Melvins, Morbid Angel, Neurosis, Eyehategod, and Alice in Chains wouldn't be too far off. There are quick death metal bursts that slip in, but overall it's an atmospheric album. Even though the powerful doom riffs are heavy and aggressive, they're calming in its slow-pace. The mood this album creates is a dark, pissed off, insane, and nihilistic one while you're in a tranquil state, something not many albums could pull off. Every song needs to be listened to from beginning to end. Acid Bath pulls an influence from many metal sub-genres so smoothly, yet they aren't unbelievably technical or wildly experimental. It's an easy album to listen to from first to last track where every song has its own identity. A true classic.

even though acid bath has been disbanded for 3 years now, they still live on. they released 2 cds("when the kite string pops" and "paegan terrorism tactics")and even though they were never mainstream-thank god-they have made an impact on the music world like bands like limp bizkit and kid rock never have and never will. dax's lyrics are extremely awesome and his vocals are breathtaking. sammy and mike have excellent guitar skills, audie(r.i.p) was an extremely talented bassist who left this world too soon, and jimmy was a great drummer. the 1st album is my personal favorite, but the 2nd is just as good. from songs like "the bones of baby dolls" and "scream of the butterfly" to others like "jezebel" and "cassie eats cockroaches" on "w.t.k.s.p" to songs like "bleed me an ocean" and "dead girl" on "p.t.t." acid bath has very diverse music that anyone can fall in love with. if you like acid bath, you should check out agents of oblivion(dax and mike's new project)and goatwhore(sammy's new project... sammy is also now in crowbar). i definitely recommend both acid bath albums to anyone's cd collection.

Acid Bath's debut, "When The Kite String Pops," is more under-appreciated sludge from Louisiana. However, this may be considered a classic for it crosses the sheer power of Black Sabbath-like doom laced with the downside-haze of an amphetamine rush.

With either of Acid Bath's two releases, you really can't go wrong, especially if you have an attraction to the Sabbath-drenched Louisiana swamp metal. All at once destructive, emotionally wrenching and as powerful as the remnants of that Cajun dinner you finished a few hours ago, Acid Bath possesses songwriting and playing ability miles beyond that of their brethen. Much of Acid Bath's music is based around thick slabs of guitar warfare revolving around smooth tempo shifts. Meanwhile, vocalist Dax Riggs alternates between a tortured shriek and very strong, moody clean vocals.

The fourteen tracks of aural brawn are deftly crafted for maximum impact. "Cassie Eats Cockroaches" is like a horror rendition of "The Vagina Monologues" gone very, very awry. Even the peaceful sounding "Screams Of The Butterfly" has fear cowering in a dark corner somewhere in the twisted psyche of the protagonist. "The Mortician's Flame" manages to rock as hard as any song I've heard. The song's titles give you a window of the band's brand of cutting humor; take for instance, "Dr. Seuss Is Dead" and "The Bones Of Baby Dolls" as just a couple of the cases of the band's twisted mindset.

In all cases, Dax Riggs does a masterful job vocally with everything ranging from deep crooning to sped-up raging and often uses effects to morph his lung-bashing into new psychedelic shapes.

If you like Eyehategod or Down you'll love Acid Bath.

"When The Kite String Pops" was produced by Spike Cassidy. Music this thick deserves high production values and nothing is skimped over in the control room. Also worthy is the cover artwork by noted artist/serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

Whoever said the lead singer sounds like the guy from creed is horribly retarded. First off they don't sound anything alike and second creed started releasing music after this band's demise, which would make creed sound like acid bath not the other way around.

Well anyways, this is a superb cd.

I am serious when I say this. You will not want to take this out of your disc player. Acid Bath, along with Crowbar, Soilent Green, Down, Eyehategod, and a few select others, hail from the New Orleans sludge metal scene that basically broke the rules and played metal in the vein of early Black Sabbath.

Acid Bath stands out the most out of all of these bands. They are a mix of sludge, death metal, black metal, hardcore, grindcore, and everything along those lines. The band also throws in its share of acoustic ballads as well ("Scream of the Butterfly").

"The Blue", the track that starts it all, is a more melodic track with its share of tempo changes. Then we have "Tranquilized", which would have probably been a standout single for this band. It's a faster track that still carries that drone feeling. "Cheap Vodka" goes into punk/crust speed and only lasts just over 2 minutes. "Finger Paintings of the Insane" brings the speed down and is more of a doom/sludge track. "Jezebel" starts off by bringing its elements of death/thrash metal riffage and then simmers down when it hits the chorus. "Scream of the Butterfly", as I said before, is an acoustic ballad. A nice change throughout the duration. However, the mellowness quits with "Dr. Seuss Is Dead", another sludgy track that actually starts off with a slow feel. "Dope Fiend" brings back the feel that "The Blue" provided. "Toubabo Koomi", the promo single of this album, is one amazing song. Starts off quick, then drones off into pure bliss. "God Machine" is basically like an anthem track. "The Mortician's Flame" keeps a steady beat and keeps you hooked. "What Color Is Death" is another song that represents the CD well. "The Bones of Baby Dolls" is yet another acoustic ballad as well, and the closer, "Cassie Eats Cockroaches", has one of the best groove riffs in there. Very diverse selection here.

Now, to the band members:

Dax Riggs is one of the most talented and underrated vocalists in the history of music. He was only about 16 when this CD was made! It carries a drone feel, but also has a wide range. After his work in Acid Bath, he carried on an alternative rock project called Agents in Oblivion, that only released one album. Now he plays in Deadboy and the Elephantmen, which is more of an indie outfit accompanied with Tessie Brunet.

Sammy Duet is one great guitarist. He now plays for American blackened death metal act Goatwhore.

Mike Sanchez also makes the guitar sound of Acid Bath complete as well. He also went off with Dax in the short lived Agents of Oblivion.

Audie Pitre was the band's bassist, in which he showed off his undeniable talent. Unfortunately, in January 1997, he was killed in a head-on collision by a drinking truck driver. Thus, that was the death of Acid Bath, just after they released their final albu, "Paegan Terrorism Tactics".

Jimmy Kyle is a great drummer. Not the best, but good at what he does.

You need this CD. Whether you are into sludge or death metal, or even into nu-metal for all I care, you need this. Just looking at the John Wayne Gacy album cover will tell you that you are in for one great ride with "When The Kite String Pops".

Acid Bath is simply one of the most original metal acts to ever come out of America. When The Kite String Pops is brutal, punishing, disturbing, bleak, beautiful, poetic, serene, and more. The juxtapostion of seemingly every style of heavy music with vividly poetic yet troubling lyrics and Dax Rigg's croon must be heard to be believed. A run-through of my personal favorites goes like this:

"Tranquilized" - a groovy, 70's-rock song wtih catchy vocals and a cool, Sabbath-like middle section. Badass.

"Finger Paintings Of The Insane" - an ominous, disturbing, downright scary track. Dax's echoed vocals and the high-register guitar fills creepily match the slow, hypnotic tempo. Some spooky lyrics as well. "Rape the mother, kill the father".

"Jezebel" - breathtaking. Starts out as a full-on death metal assault. However, it eventually breaks down into a slow, disturbing hypnosis like "Finger Paintings". Also, this probably has the best lyrics on the record, from the classic opening lines, to the "screams bloody murder as they chop off her fingers" part. Excellent.

"Scream Of The Butterfly" - although it's a little to goth for me, this is still a gorgeous ballad about abortion. The bass playing by Audie is pretty good, and the lyrics are poetic as always.

"Toubabo Koomi" - musically, this track has a lot of stuff going on. It starts out as a punkish moshpit song, but it gradually breaks down into almost melodic metal. And at the end, guitars squall into feedback while Dax cryptically chants "I did a line".
Also the album's first and only single/video.

"The Bones Of Baby Dolls" - kinda shows their Cajun roots. This song is simply gorgeous, from it's three main acoustic guitar riffs to the processed vocals to some of the best lyrics Dax ever wrote. "Like bottle glass scraping across the pavement."

"Cassie Eats Cockroaches" - the first song I heard by them. Very heavy metal with that opening riff, and it's loaded with double bass drumming and movie dialouge samples, most famously from
'A Clockwork Orange'. Dax's sexually disturbing lyrics are simple mind-boggling. How does one think of that?

Even the tracks I didn't mention ("Blue", "Cheap Vodka", "Dope Fiend", "Dr. Seuss Is Dead", "God Machine", "What Color Is Death", and particularly "The Mortician's Flame") all are amazing. Dax Riggs, Mike Sanchez, Sammy Pierre Duet, Audie Pitre, and Jimmy Kyle, thank you for crafting a powerful, emotional, and immortal album. May the Acid Bath cult live on. Peace out.