Say Goodnight to the World

Once a fine purveyor of doom metal (with his bands Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion), Dax Riggs has morphed into a bluesman with a penchant for both soul crushing guitar squalls and acoustic death-obsessed lamentations. Growling lines like “we’ll leave our skins outside” and “taste the moonlight on your tongue,” Riggs’ voice is all sinew and muscle, but he’s also capable of an alluring, thorny purr. His canny interpretations of blues-inspired music lends Say Goodnight to the World a variety of moods: “Let Me Be Your Cigarette” pulses with the heart of Iggy Pop’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” while “You Were Born To Be My Gallows” is as delicate and lovely as a spider web. Tracks like “I Hear Satan,” “Say Goodnight To The World” and “No One Will Be A Stranger” should appeal to both fans of the Black Keys and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and “Grave Dirt On My Blue Suede Shoes” has a vintage, goth-punk heart. If you enjoy Say Goodnight, check out Rigg’s earlier band, Deadboy & The Elephantmen, including that band’s debut, If This Is Hell Then I’m Lucky, recently reissued under Riggs’ own name.