The Locksmyth - Exquisite Villains

Back in July, Atlanta’s blues rock vanguards The Locksmyth returned with their first release since 2013’s Key Change EP. The group’s full-length album, Exquisite Villains, is a decade-blending, genre-hopping view of the present through a sepia-toned haze.

Originally conceived as a solo project, frontman Ethan Gabriel Jack has expanded his lineup to include players from other notable local acts such as experimental rockers Jungol and the late Gun Party. This misfit menagerie of musicians, with help from a slew of special guests, combines to create a unique sound that is one part White Stripes and one part Red Red Meat, with a dash of Scott Joplin thrown into the mix.

While Exquisite Villains takes plenty of opportunities to showcase the band’s quieter, acoustic side, the album’s most memorable songs are also its heaviest. “American Crow” maintains Locksmyth’s blues aesthetic, but features a steady ’90s grunge influence. “Movin'” plays like a hard-hitting road trip to the Louisiana bayou and back. The album’s final and strongest track, “Holy Roller Suit,” is a catchy, rollicking tune that would be at home in a revival tent outside the Church of Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Locksmyth is, at its heart, a band steeped in theatrical tradition. Half vaudeville, half rock opera, Exquisite Villains is a sideshow featuring a medley of freaks, felons, and ne’er-do-wells. It’s the sound pouring out of the speakeasy two shots before last call while the circus is in town. It’s an album that isn’t afraid to take risks, to dip its toes in one style before diving headfirst into another.

More Info
Bandcamp: the-locksmyth.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @TheLocksmyth
Twitter: @The_Locksmyth