Doom poetics

For centuries the end of the world has been a looming question mark hanging over the curiosity of scholars, theologians and concerned people.

According the ancient Mayan calendar, the world will end in 2012. Some people believed the world would cease as the clock struck twelve on January 31, 1999, and others believe it could be any day now when the ozone is destroyed and the sun burns us alive.

Acknowledging our interests and fears of the apocalypse, authors and filmmakers have materialized their curiosity and predictions to the public by taking them to the big screen and bookstores worldwide.

If the apocalypse were to have a soundtrack, it would probably sound something similar to “Say Goodnight to the World,” the sophomore effort by singer/songwriter Dax Riggs.

Riggs, known for his work with Acid Bath and Deadboy & the Elephantmen, picks up where he left off on his debut solo album, “Blood or Love”, as he pursues his doomy-punk version of poetics.

The album starts with the title track as an electric guitar wailing what sounds like an Indian war cry as it launches into a heavy drum beat of an oncoming attack.

“All these stars you’ve been reaching after, weeping with laughter, weeping with laughter. I could disappear, live only in your tears, just you whisper in my ear and say good night to the world,” Riggs sings mournfully yet offering redemption.

“Say Goodnight” hustles droning, distorted guitars that could make Robert Johnson reconsider selling his soul to the devil and invoke an imagery of doom that somehow remains poetic.

Although on tracks such as “Like Moonlight” and “You Were Born to be My Gallows”, Riggs turns down the electric mayhem to create an atmospheric sound of midnight stroll through a graveyard. His eerily calming voice implies a peaceful tone to what sounds like impending doom.

Throughout the album, an undertone of blues rings through the music and lyrics.

And much like the original bluesmen, Riggs’ keeps much of the music simple with steady drum beats and crawling bass lines.

Much of the gloomy atmosphere on the album is created by the rich voice of the singer, which draws a resemblance of the late Layne Staley and David Bowie a la “Heroes” era.

The highlight track of the album is Riggs’ cover of the song popularized by Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel”. The original composition depicts loneliness, but the Riggs’ version truly captures the depth of loneliness.

Opening with a bleak bass and subtle yet sparse hi-hat, the singer’s voice has a swagger that could only be pictured sitting at an old bar as his tears drip into his bourbon.

Haunting, graveyard guitar lines follow the chorus to create an imagery of the broken hearted visitor that makes you believe when Riggs’ sings “I get so lonely baby, I could die.”

Riggs’ lyrics mainly consist of doom and darkness, and the songwriter shows promise in his capabilities in matching poetry with instrumentation.

“Say Goodbye to the World,” will be released on August 3, 2010 via Fat Possum Records. Riggs’ will be performing in Oxford, September 23 at Proud Larry’s, but those who want to catch the artist before then can see him in Memphis at Hi-Tone Café, August 1.