The post-Cobain era of the mid-90s was a weird time for rock music. Fans were still recovering from the death of the Nirvana frontman, and there were a bunch of bands full of pretenders who the industry was using to replace the iconic Seattle band while contemporaries like The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and Weezer were putting out some of their best material. That particular time period’s influence is often overlooked. Looks like Atlanta rock act Big Jesus didn’t get the memo. Their latest album Oneiric shines with sonically induced sounds and powerful tones.
For anyone who’s a fan of emphatic bands like Hum and Failure, Big Jesus is bound to strum a few heartstrings. They blend melody and dynamic structure together to create music that oozes poignancy. C.J. Ridings and Thomas Gonzalez’s guitar skills inject electricity that shoots through the ears. Spencer Ussery on bass combines stellar rhythms with drummer Joe Sweat to serve as the engine that drives the band. Ussery’s atmospheric vocals are a soothing contrast to the loudness that encompasses Big Jesus.
What makes Oneiric truly brilliant is the edge that flows throughout the album and makes the band’s sound wide-ranging. Big Jesus possess this psych-shoegaze vibe that hits hard. This foursome from Atlanta could be one of the few bands sniffling indie kids and raging metalheads can agree on. To get a notion of how this could be, once again dive into my top tracks off the Album Of The Week.
A shredder that is definitely a brain melter is “Shards.” The energy that resonates from beginning to end is incredible and the nerves will get a distinct shock while listening. “Always” is another shredtastic track that hits like a wrecking ball through a brick building. It never lets up on the energy and rhythms. With an ambient start, “Lost Dog” starts off in a somber way but when the drums hit, everything changes.
In support of Oneiric, Big Jesus will be touring all over The United States starting at Gasa Gasa in New Orleans on October 14 with fellow Atlantians Whores. They’ll be rolling through New England for a couple shows opening for Good Charlotte, The Story So Far and Four Year Strong at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence on November 11 and the House Of Blues in Boston on November 13. It’s kind of odd that they’re playing with a noise rock act one night and a bunch of pop punk bands on a bunch of other nights, but it does show how wide ranging the band’s sound is. If you’re going to either show or another show that Big Jesus will be playing at, make sure to grab a copy of their new album. It’s a fantastic release by an up-and-coming act with a lot of promise.
Stream “Shards” via Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=dmaKIt6m6Wc; Big Jesus’ Website: bigjesus.net