The Eolian Empire label has been hard at work bringing the world emanations from the Pacific Northwest so heavy and weird they could be coming from the Black Lodge itself. The label has birthed monstrous creations from the likes of PRIZEHOG, HOT VICTORY, RABBITS and PURPLE RHINESTONE EAGLE, to name just a few. But among all the heavy, weird releases they’ve blessed us with, DRUNK DAD’s Ripper Killer is among the heaviest and weirdest.
Ripper Killer doesn’t come from Portlandia’s Portland. It’s not the sound of some gentle, banjo-fied and “literate” would-be Decemberists. It’s the Portland that was there before the trend-pieces and artisanal bakeries and will be there when those things are gone: a land of rough-cut lumberjacks, sleazy strip clubs, seedy tweakers, abandoned lots, minimal sunlight and massive unemployment.
Many of the band’s influences seem specific to the west coast as well: MELVINS, FLIPPER, NIRVANA, POISON IDEA… throw in some later period BLACK FLAG, some BUTTHOLE SURFERS and some free-jazz level noise freakouts and make it somehow even more punishingly brutal than that description sounds and you’re starting to get the idea.
Singer/guitarist Dane Herrin’s lyrics reflect on addiction, sex, death, despair, squalor and of course drunkenness and former Bostonian Jose Delara (THE MULES, PROTOKOLL, THE BLACK FREIGHTER etc) absolutely wails, busting out noisy feedback squalls, bludgeoning power chords and truly ripping solos with equal fervor. The rhythm section is tight and brutal, especially on songs like the 8-minute title track. PDX harsh noise terrorist and Eolian labelmate REDNECK adds satisfying layers of crunchy, buzzy chaos to the mix.
Ripper Killer does indeed both rip and kill. It’s a take no mercy declaration of righteous (and sometimes maybe less than righteous) furor from five dudes with absolutely zero fucks to give. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
Ripper Killer is streaming in its entirety exclusively at Invisible Oranges and is for sale now via Eolian Empire. DRUNK DAD will be bludgeoning their way through the Boston area this September.
