Dax Riggs - We Sing of Only Blood or Love

Dax Riggs
We Sing of Only Blood or Love
Fat Possum

Ex-deadboy & the Elephantmen front man Dax Riggs posted a message on the old deadboy myspace website stating that deadboy was no more, but they were more than just a band and, “it’s in my DNA.” That must explain why Riggs’ new album is similar to the gothic swamp-glam of deadboy’s debut album. Releasing it under his own name rather than under the deadboy moniker, he sheds some of his folk-y aspirations for a more grunge rock and blues oriented sound.

“We Sing of Only Blood or Love,” is dirty swamp-rock album from start to finish. Brooding guitars give way to Dax’s soulful crooning on the Soundgarden-esque, “Night Is The Notion.” “Radiation Blues” is a post-apocalyptic rocker with a slow churning blues verse, which picks up speed during a distorted guitar filled chorus. Much of the album is heavy and raw, including the industrial sounding “Truth in the Dark.” “Living is Suicide” begins with a hauntingly vocal melody over rhythmic guitar strums and evolves into a dark new wave section with pounding piano chords that resemble Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock.”

The album falters during the slower numbers, however. The poppy-acoustic-folk of “Ouroboros” and bluesy ballad ”The Terrors of Nightlife” showcase Dax’s vocal ability, but they just don’t have the same bite and heavy backbeat that propels the other songs. “We Sing of Only Blood or Love,” is a raw, dark, and grimy journey, and I’m sure Dax wouldn’t want it any other way.

- Richard Giraldi

"Night Is The Notion"


Originally published in OffBeat August 2007