Review Summary: Glorious noise overload.
Rarely have I ever come across a record, noise rock or otherwise, quite as draining as Lightning Bolt's intense self-titled debut. Nowadays the group have a considerably large following in the American noise rock scene, garnering the same level of acclaim that peers such as Boredoms and (another famed "bass and drums" duo) Ruins have accumulated. But their genre-bending sound, as well as their association with the infamous former Rhode Island artist space Fort Thunder, made them one of the most intriguing bands to come out of the genre. Their blend of noise rock, punk, metal, and progressive rock still inspires many musicians today, as well as the fact that just two musicians (bassist Brian Gibson and drummer Brian Chippendale) can fill a room with more sound than Slipknot could with
nine musicians. Of course, their gigs - which they perform on the floor instead of the stage - are also a big factor in their memorability.
But let's get back to that debut record. Not only is it incredibly energetic and loud like Lightning Bolt's other material, but it also happens to be their most unrefined album. It's truly hard to believe that only two people are creating so much ruckus, most of which is attributed to the high level of distortion from Brian Gibson's bass. While the original version of
Lightning Bolt is only about 32 minutes, it's still not for the faint of heart; between the repetitive melodies and riffs, the hard-hitting punk and metal-inspired drumming, and Brian Chippendale's odd vocal filtering, it's not easy to experience in one sitting. This is apparent right from the get-go... while "Into the Valley" initially seems pretty reasonable as it begins with a clip of a live audience cheering, Gibson's incredibly noisy bass riffing soon bombards the eardrums in suitably abrasive fashion. Things soon become very repetitive and soon start wearing on the listener, but with a few more listens to the album, it all becomes much more clear.
The key to enjoying this album is very similar to how Orthrelm's album
OV: finding the little nuances within such repetition. It's worth listening to each track just to hear the minor changes in each bass riff or drum pattern, however small the alterations are; THAT'S what's so rewarding. Some progressions are a little bit easier to digest, primarily in the shorter songs like the somewhat-catchy groove of "Murk Hike" or the quirky voice sampling of "Caught Deep in the Zone." But the longer songs like "Into the Valley" and the biggest highlight "Fleeing the Valley of Whirling Knives" end up being the strongest cuts due to just how hypnotic they are. The latter still manages to be one of Lightning Bolt's crowning achievements, starting as a low thrashy groove and eventually evolving into a highly melodic bass workout with impressive tapping from Gibson. The former is definitely more abrasive, but no less fascinating; the one bass guitar sounds like five guitars, and Chippendale's drumming almost sounds as though he's playing entirely in drum fills. "Mistake" is probably the weakest song here, as the painfully slow volume buildup leads to a slightly disappointing main riff, but at least it's still a fitting (and fittingly noisy) closer to this strange album.
Whether or not you'll enjoy Lightning Bolt's debut heavily depends on your tolerance for incredibly lo-fi and unpolished noise music. The repetition will certainly grate on some people, as will the incredible amount of distortion present throughout the experience. But to those who do appreciate it, it's a fascinating album that often reveals another layer of itself with every listen. The musicianship is great, the compositions are intense and mesmerizing in their execution, and the whole thing is just a dream come true for anyone who loves the more abrasive and uncompromising side of rock music.
Recommended Tracks:
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-Fleeing the Valley of Whirling Knives
-Into the Valley
-Murk Hike
Also, a word of warning: this might be one of the loudest albums production/mixing-wise. I'd recommend listening with headphones or speakers rather than earphones so you won't cause excessive damage to your hearing.
