Ever wonder what would happen if you combined groovy sludge-metal, haunting Bowie-esque vocals/ballads, hardcore punk/thrash, chaotic psychedelia, a dash of black metal, a pinch of industrial, and some of the most disturbingly poetic and remarkably dark lyrics ever committed to tape?
Well, that already happened, courtesy of legendary Louisiana death-rock band Acid Bath, who only existed for a few short years before their bassist Audie Pitre was tragically killed in a car accident, which effectively led to the band’s dissolution. But during their brief existence, they produced two fantastically dynamic albums (When the Kite String Pops and Paegan Terrorism Tactics) that helped establish a cult following for the band (despite practically zero publicity). Indeed, the band has gained more notoriety and acclaim in the years since they dissolved. Still, given that former vocalist, Dax Riggs moved on to a relatively successful career as a bluesy indie-rock musician (anyone remember Deadboy & the Elephantmen?) and has shown practically zero interest in heavy music in the years since, it’s fair to say Acid Bath will likely remain dead and buried for all eternity, sadly.
But considering it’s the season for all things macabre, let’s look at this rightfully vicious performance of “Cassie Eats Cockroaches,” performed live at The Abyss in Houston when the band was starting out. Interestingly, Dax never seemed entirely comfortable being the frontman of a heavy band, which might explain his markedly different musical pursuits in his post-Acid Bath years. However, lack of stage presence notwithstanding, this is still a killer performance, nonetheless.
