Rather than the band’s usual wrestling cartoon cover art, Suplecs has this time chosen a leafless tree dying in the desert. Instead of some fun, goofy title, we are given Mad Oak Redoux.
“Stand Alone” bursts from the gates at an Iron Maiden-esque gallop, with an anthemic shouting of the song’s title. It’s one of the band’s best songs yet, and had Suplecs populated their whole new album with such songs, Wild Oak Redoux might be more immediately satisfying to a certain listener. But in the five years and one huge storm since Suplecs’ last album, Powtin’ on the Outside, Pawty on the Inside, the trio’s songwriting has grown more restless and dynamic. Unlike so many of New Orleans’ other metal heroes, Suplecs seem to want to give each song its own personality.
Nearly six years after the fact, this is in some ways Suplecs’ Katrina album. “FEMA Man,” sounds like a Smashing Pumpkins or new Jane’s Addiction groove that is luckily saved by clever and moving lyrics in homage to Texas friends who sheltered them after Katrina. When the band steps outside its box and leans in a non-metal direction, a tastier ‘90s rock vibe often pervades. “Once Again” puts the song before the pummel and comes off like a less melodic Soul Asylum or humbler Afghan Whigs, with sincere lyrics about “fires that burn deep in my soul.” Wah guitar screeches in the background of “Tried to Build an Engine” bring SST-era Dinosaur Jr. to mind. The song’s “You think it’s cool I wrote a song about you,” lyrical theme is a bit vapid, but near the end there’s no denying the power of the band flipping between fast breaks and half-time breaks. Several of the album’s songs start out so-so, then end up in satisfying, badass places. The end of “2×4” jumps to a heavy gallop and singer Danny Nick bellows (in a nod to one of New Orleans’ mightiest metal bands), “Cut my wrists to a Hawgjaw song.”
Given how monochromatic a lot of metal can sound over the course of an entire album, it is far more interesting to listen to Suplecs shift gears on Mad Oak Redoux, even if the band hasn’t mastered every curve of every new road.
