As we descend deeper into the pit of October, certain artists and bands that suit the season can’t help but come to mind. Some of those artists are more obvious (some might say “cliché”) than others, but a good subversive pick that probably deserves a bit more attention is Dax Riggs, who, not coincidentally, has a birthday coming up this week (10/15). Indeed, the Louisiana native has made a name for himself over the years with his soulfully haunting brand of stripped-down swamp-rock, but his primary claim to fame, of course, came courtesy of his years fronting the legendary metal band Acid Bath back in the mid-’90s.
After Acid Bath’s miraculous reunion earlier this year and a string of sold-out dates to follow (which included some “large font” spots at several major festivals), suffice to say the (well-deserved) hype around the band has never been bigger. But that wasn’t always the case, of course, as Acid Bath’s eclectic and innovative mix of disturbingly gothic psychedelic sludge-metal never fully gained much traction outside of the underground metal circuit during their mid-’90s heyday.
And while most of Acid Bath’s jams were sadistically vicious (both lyrically and sonically), they also had a surprising amount of more varied material. A good example of that is “Tranquilized”, performed here live at The Rat in Boston from 1996 (they would break up the following year after the tragic death of bassist Audie Pitre). A relatively “tranquil” selection from the Acid Bath vault, but certainly manic by most people’s standards, it’s a good entry point into the band if you were ever curious. Take the plunge:
