Is that Johnny Cash? . . . No, Tom Waits? . . . A new solo album from Mike Ness? None of the above. The sound emanating from the speakers is just not what one would expect from a band called Murder By Death. Rather than the hardcore/thrash metal you might expect, Murder By Death presents a much more straight forward Americana brand of rock with noticeable influences from both punk and classic country. Perhaps the best contemporary comparison would be to the band who recorded Paste Magazine’s album of the year for 2007, The National or Dustin Kensrue’s solo album “Please Come Home.”

Murder By Death aren’t just a bunch of new kids on the block. After forming in 2000, they’ve been recording music together for the last six years. The inclusion of a cello, played by the beautiful Sarah Balliet, adds a layer of depth to their sound. This depth is most evident on the instrumental track “Theme (For Ennio Morricone)” which is reminiscent of a mid-tempo Godspeed You Black Emperor. Throughout “The Red of Tooth and Claw” are themes of love, lust, betrayal, and revenge. The pacing of the album has a great travellin’ feel, so definitely crank it up on your next road trip, especially if you’re heading west across the United States. Key tracks include “Comin’ Home” “Fuego” and “Ash.”

Buy “The Red of Tooth and Claw” on iTunes now. “Red of Tooth and Claw” also available on Vinyl.
Check out Murder By Death on MySpace.

Catch Murder By Death live:

appearing with Clutch
Wed	02/27/08		Minneapolis, MN		First Avenue
Thu	02/28/08		Kansas City, MO		Beaumont Club
Fri	02/29/08		Springfield, MO		Remington’s Downtown
Sat	03/01/08		Omaha, NE		Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Mon	03/03/08		Aspen, CO		Belly Up Aspen
Tue	03/04/08		Salt Lake City, UT		The Depot
Wed	03/05/08		Boise, ID		Big Easy Concert House
Thu	03/06/08		Missoula, MT		Wilma Theatre
Fri	03/07/08		Seattle, WA		Showbox At The Market
Sat	03/08/08		Portland, OR		Roseland Theater
Mon	03/10/08		San Francisco, CA		Slim’s
Tue	03/11/08		San Francisco, CA		Slim’s
Wed	03/12/08		San Diego, CA		House Of Blues
Thu	03/13/08		Los Angeles, CA		Music Box @ Fonda
Fri	03/14/08		Flagstaff, AZ		The Orpheum Theater
Sat	03/15/08		Albuquerque, NM		Sunshine Theatre
Mon	03/17/08		Tulsa, OK		Cain’s Ballroom
Tue	03/18/08		Sauget, IL		Pop’s
Wed	03/19/08		Cincinnati, OH		Bogart’s
Thu	03/20/08		Pittsburgh, PA		Mr. Small’s Theatre
Fri	03/21/08		Richmond, VA		The National Theater
Sat	03/22/08		Raleigh, NC		Lincoln Theatre
Murder By Death
Thu	03/27/08		Bloomington, IN		Rhino’s All Ages Music Club
Thu	03/27/08		Bloomington, IN		Uncle Festers
Fri	03/28/08		Cleveland, OH		Grog Shop
Sat	03/29/08		Chicago, IL		Abbey Pub
Sun	03/30/08		Detroit, MI		Magic Stick
Tue	04/01/08		Rochester, NY		Water St. Music Hall / Club
Wed	04/02/08		Albany, NY		Valentine’s
Thu	04/03/08		Philadelphia, PA		First Unitarian Church
Fri	04/04/08		New York, NY		Bowery Ballroom
Sat	04/05/08		Cambridge, MA		Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub
Sun	04/06/08		Hartford, CT		Webster Theatre / Underground
Tue	04/08/08		Providence, RI		Living Room
Wed	04/09/08		Washington, DC		Black Cat
Thu	04/10/08		Chapel Hill, NC		Local 506
Fri	04/11/08		Harrisonburg, VA		Garibaldi’s
Sat	04/12/08		Wilmington, NC		The Soapbox
Sun	04/13/08		West Columbia, SC		New Brookland Tavern
Tue	04/15/08		Miami, FL		Studio A
Wed	04/16/08		Tampa, FL		Orpheum
Thu	04/17/08		Tallahassee, FL		The Beta Bar
Sat	04/19/08		Atlanta, GA		The Masquerade
Sun	04/20/08		Nashville, TN		Exit / In
Tue	04/22/08		Memphis, TN		Hi-Tone Cafe
Wed	04/23/08		Saint Louis, MO		Off Broadway Nightclub

*tour schedule courtesy of Pollstar.