After a 26-year hiatus, Jesus Lizard returns with their seventh studio album, Rack. Released on September 13, 2024, via Ipecac Recordings, Rack delivers 11 tracks of unrelenting, uncompromising guitar rock that simultaneously echoes the band’s storied past while carving out new sonic territory. Far from mellowing with age, the Chicago-born quartet—vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison, bassist David Wm. Sims, and drummer Mac McNeilly—comes roaring back with an album that demonstrates they still have plenty of fuel left in the tank.

Title: Rack
Artist: Jesus Lizard
Release Date: 2024-09-13
Genres: Noise Rock, Post-punk
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Description: Jesus Lizard returns with their new album Rack after 26 years, delivering 11 tracks of intense noise rock. Read our review of their bold comeback on Ipecac Recordings.

“Hide & Seek” sets the tone for the record, immediately launching listeners into a frenzied world where punk energy collides with hard rock precision. As the lead single, “Hide & Seek” is somewhat more accessible than other tracks, delivering a relentless pace that is instantly gratifying. Yow’s vocal delivery is forceful yet retains an undercurrent of playful malevolence, a dichotomy that has always characterized the Jesus Lizard’s best work. The tight interplay between McNeilly’s driving rhythms and Denison’s jagged guitar lines creates a sonic landscape that is at once chaotic and meticulously controlled.

The album takes a darker turn with “Armistice Day”, a slower, heavier composition that allows the band to stretch into more psychedelic territory. Denison’s guitar solo on this track stands out as one of the more expansive moments on the album, offering a brief respite from the album’s otherwise frenetic energy. The slower pace gives Yow’s vocals room to breathe, allowing his voice to oscillate between menacing whispers and guttural shouts.

One of the most striking tracks on the album is “Grind”, which sees the band returning to a faster tempo but introducing unexpected shifts in tone and rhythm. The unpredictability has always been one of Jesus Lizard’s strongest traits, and “Grind” encapsulates that perfectly—never allowing the listener to settle into a comfortable groove, yet rewarding those who can follow its jagged path.

“What If?” introduces a post-rock sensibility into the mix. The track features spoken-word sections from Yow, further accentuating the uneasy atmosphere of the song. His dispassionate narration, punctuated by abrupt changes in rhythm, conjures images of a disillusioned observer recounting a scene unfolding before him. The track’s noir-like quality makes it one of the more introspective moments on the album.

The album’s centerpiece, “Lord Godiva”, exemplifies the concept of “controlled chaos” that has been central to Jesus Lizard’s approach. McNeilly’s drumming drives the track forward with a mechanical precision, grounding the swirling chaos above it. The song feels like a descent into madness, with Yow’s voice cutting through the noise like a prophet foretelling doom.

Then comes “Alexis Feels Sick”, a track that explores much darker emotional territory. The song’s brooding tone, coupled with Yow’s raw vocal delivery, gives it a sense of bleakness that permeates the entire track. There’s an emotional weight to the song that feels almost oppressive, as if the band is channeling their collective frustration into a singular outburst of sound. Denison’s guitar work here is particularly striking, veering between angular riffs and dissonant noise, creating a soundscape that feels like it’s teetering on the brink of collapse.

“Dunning Kruger” is a chaotic, claustrophobic piece of music that perfectly encapsulates the band’s ability to create tension and release it in explosive bursts.

The third single, “Moto(R)”, is another high-energy track that doesn’t waste any time getting started. The song explodes out of the gate with blistering speed, with Yow’s voice taking on a deranged Elvis-like quality as he howls over Denison’s frenetic guitar work. It’s a fast, frantic track that doesn’t let up, leaving the listener breathless by the time it ends.

By the time the album reaches its penultimate track, “Is That Your Hand?”, the listener is fully immersed in the world of Rack. Though the track may not offer many surprises, it is a solid addition to the album’s lineup, maintaining the momentum built up over the preceding tracks.

The album closes with “Swan the Dog”, where dissonant piano contrasts with a bouncing bass, creating an unsettling atmosphere. However, it doesn’t take long for the song to descend back into the familiar chaos of distorted guitars and pummeling drums. It’s a fitting end to the album, encapsulating everything that makes Rack such a powerful return for Jesus Lizard.

In an era where many bands opt for polished production and accessible melodies, Jesus Lizard remains defiantly raw and unpolished. Rack resists easy listening, staying true to Jesus Lizard’s raw and abrasive sound that defies mainstream conventions. 

Matteo Damiani

Matteo Damiani is an Italian photographer and author. Curator of the sites Retrofuturista.com; weirditaly.com; china-underground.com and others