Death is not a Joyride, The Human Zoo

The Human Zoo is the first full-length album from Austin’s Death is not a Joyride. Recorded by John Congleton of the Polyphonic Spree, it sounds like the dark mirror of that beacon of shiny happiness. The approach on The Human Zoo is highly experimental, with punk and industrial noises choreographed like a symphony or a Trent Reznor cover of an entire Zappa album. The audio experience is an exploration of humanity’s fear of being caged and how we manage to incarcerate ourselves regardless. It’s a restless cacophony of drums and guitar most of time, with the vocals mixed low in among demonic organs and a violin. The title track says it all when it states that we are in the mind of a tiger pacing in cage. You cannot rock out to this vision of prison. Even the softer and more mainstream cuts, like the instrumental “Rats at the Fair” and the almost-pop “Sleeping With Skeleton Keys” leave you feeling skinned and salted. You might like that — after all, some people like to hang themselves on hooks — but just because you enjoy the screaming of your nerves doesn’t mean you’re not bleeding. The Human Zoo‘s got teeth and claws. I advise you to approach with caution.