Going into my listening of Do to the Beast, I was not overly familiar with The Afghan Whigs. However, I immediately was able to recognize the trademark sounds that make the band who they are. The album is instantly dark and menacing. It broods from start to finish, yet there’s some softness mixed in here that draws out the essence of a consistently great album.
Do to the Beast opens with “Parked Outside,” a guitar-laden track that essentially picks up where all Afghan Whigs albums do: with a bang. The riff and prominent rhythm section, meshed with Greg Dulli’s harrowing vocals all make for an awesome tune. “Algiers,” which may be Do to the Beast’s best song, continues this trend and even takes it up all the way to 11. Again, the riff and rhythm section stand out for all the right reasons.
Not all of Do to the Beast is like this, though. Tracks like “It Kills” and “Can Rova” slow down the tempo and add a quality mix of piano and strings to give the songs a different feel from tracks like “Parked Outside” and “Algiers.” It is tough to achieve balance on the record. However, The Afghan Whigs find a way to do it perfectly with the addition of these songs.
Do to the Beast ends on what is really one track split into three parts: “Royal Cream,” “I Am Fire” and “These Sticks.” Each track leads seamlessly into the next while evolving into a unique and interesting song of its own. The percussion is fantastic, especially during the opening of “I Am Fire.” “These Sticks” functions as the perfect mellow ending to a spectacular effort. Do to the Beast is definitely worth a shot, regardless of whether or not you’re one of the band’s regular listeners.
Rating: A
