With Western Xterminator they have taken a full step backwards into retro-rock territory, sounding not unlike a 21st Century Guns N’ Roses, and at worst, Saxon. Herrema remains a maverick, an outsider in this tame, tame world, but she needs to let it all hang out.
With Western Xterminator they have taken a full step backwards into retro-rock territory, sounding not unlike a 21st Century Guns N’ Roses, and at worst, Saxon. Herrema remains a maverick, an outsider in this tame, tame world, but she needs to let it all hang out.
RTX – Western Exterminator
The unhinged production and wayward vocoder of RTX’s 2004 debut, Transmaniacon, established them as a band operating firmly on the outer limits of what we call rock. Drums were compressed to within an inch of their lives, and Jennifer Herrema’s vocals reached new dizzying heights via often hilarious abuse of modern technology. Needless to say, it pretty much vanished without a trace, but to those in the know it set brave new standards. With their follow up, RTX have all but ditched the psychedelic leanings for an altogether more straight-forward sound. They begin with the title track, which (like the sleeve) seems to cast Herrema as some kind of renegade Pied-Piper, all wandering flutes, distant bongos and cracked, rattling acoustic guitars. It’s beautiful, and it’s misleading.
No sooner than you think you’ve nailed them and they’re off with track two, and first single, Balls To Pass. It’s vintage RTX for sure, and it works; the guitars exploding out of the intro, ploughing into the verse, Jennifer’s vocals hectoring and straining, agitated and angry. Elsewhere, Money Will Roll Right In‘s slack riffs and tom-rolls combine to make wonderful slabs of thick noise and Black Banana‘s processed intro gives way to a thundering verse, but – and it pains me to say this – in the main this record is just too prosaic, too (dare I say it) contrived to cover any truly new ground. With Transmaniacon RTX appeared fully formed – the production, look and attitude of a band cock-sure of themselves, breaking new ground and combining to awesome effect. With Western Xterminator they have taken a full step backwards into retro-rock territory, sounding not unlike a 21st Century Guns N’ Roses, and at worst, Saxon. Herrema remains a maverick, an outsider in this tame, tame world, but she needs to let it all hang out.
Words: Tom White.