Durham, North Carolina’s WAILIN STORMS has been at it for just over a decade, peddling its brand of Americana, Southern gothic and would-be post-punk over the course of four albums and countless road miles, now culminating in The Arsonist, released on Season Of Mist. Let’s see if the flame flickers or scorches, then, shall we?
I’m sure the introduction to ‘Dead End’ was supposed to be ominous, heralding some sort of tragedy, but what the tragedy is, is that the quarter-baked idea never even becomes a half-baked song. I see where they’re going, attempting to blend the Old West-influenced Gothicism of certain FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM records and the push and pull, heart-rending tension of most all of NICK CAVE’s more aggressive material, but it seems by-the-numbers more than actually set aflame with the passion of, say, ‘Preacher Man’ of the former, and the latter’s ‘The Mercy Seat’.
‘Heart Of Mine’ is sluggish to the point of nearly comatose at its start, spending nearly 2/3 of its time struggling in vain to build up to a climax that never arrives. This is erectile dysfunction in musical form, the quartet flailing away at themselves but never achieving release. Ah, here it is, and I knew it was coming. ‘You Never Answered’ tries its hand at THE GUN CLUB’s aching yet furious cowpunk, but seems at a loss for direction, wandering through the deserts and woodlands WAILIN STORMS is so keen to conjure. The title track is almost laughably emotive, and it’s here I realize that a more sturdy, robust vocal presence might at least improve things. Instead, random falsettos and occasional croaking take even the stronger material like ‘Saved’ and the driving ‘Patient Night’ and renders it toothless. What’s up with the faux-British accent in ‘Patient Night’, also, now that I think of it?
Quite simply, and quite sadly – because I truly had high hopes for this new (to me) band – The Arsonist may consider itself a fiery album, but I don’t even smell smoke. Fans of the above bands, as well as 16 HORSEPOWER, WOVENHAND and MARK LANEGAN should listen to those instead.
Review By: Lord Randall
WAILIN STORMS
The Arsonist
Season Of Mist