IN REVIEW: The Mountain Goats - "Bleed Out"

 

John Darnielle's inspiration knows no bounds. Holed up like the rest of us during the early stages of the pandemic, the Mountain Goats' principal member turned to vintage action movies as a form of escape; in turn, he was driven to write music based around these movies and their tropes. Having already done records based around such concepts as tarot cards, professional wrestling and Dungeons & Dragons, Bleed Out doesn't feel too out of step for Darnielle.

Coming so quickly after previous releases, one would be forgiven for allowing Bleed Out to get lost in the shuffle; after all, it's The Mountain Goats' 21st album and already their fourth since 2020. That said, it does act as quite a stark departure from the quieter, more reflective albums they've produced of late; these are bloody songs of revenge and violence, and the music follows suit. While there are subdued moments to be heard, the majority of Bleed Out is upbeat and, in some cases, downright heavy. Take the humorous lead single Training Montage, a proper foot tapper that plays out like a grown-up cousin to Montage from Team America: World Police. Mark On You, meanwhile, plays up the revenge angle with a more sinister slant; it's followed by the absolute ripper Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome, the album's most righteously ferocious song, propelled by a punk tempo and a thrilling musical backdrop.

That intensity isn't sustainable, and Extraction Point dials it back musically while offering a more reflective tone. Bones Don't Rust veers somewhat into Dire Straits territory, speaking from the vantage point of an underappreciated professional. First Blood name drops not just Rambo, but Charles Bronson's character from Death Wish, Buford Pusser and more, while the easy-going music rises in tempo and intensity. Then, there's Make You Suffer, which uses an unassumingly sweet instrumental to conceal a return to the sinister motives from earlier in the album. This is followed by Guys On Every Corner, which jumps off the proverbial page thanks to its steamy saxophone and funky, nocturnal groove; the song's protagonist feels impervious, and the music struts in tandem.

To this point a quick and easy listen, Hostages opens things up; a reverb-soaked epic at just over seven minutes, this is a song that is given plenty of room to run and takes full advantage, gliding in with a minute-long intro and addressing the handling of mass violence situations in the media. It's a thoughtful yet conflicted take that's sprawling and harrowing in equal measure. After this, there's no respite as Need More Bandages picks up the tempo again and soundtracks a siege with Molotov cocktails and reckless abandon. Incandescent Ruins explores the ever blurrier line between reality and the virtual, while the title track is another seven minute number that closes the album with the first and only mid-tempo moment, serving as the dénouement to a fast burning, high octane record.

With an output this creative and prolific, not every Mountain Goats album can be a gem, and I admit to carrying an interest level over the past few years that could be characterized as passive; that said, Bleed Out is a pleasant surprise, a witty and consistently entertaining record that acts as both a fun, popcorn-gorging thrill ride and a cerebral exploration of our society's longstanding obsession with violence depending on what angle you choose to approach it from. Either way, if you'll pardon the pun, it's a bloody good album.

August 19, 2022 • Merge

Highlights Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome • Guys On Every Corner • Hostages