Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl
In a new feature I invite some of my favourite artists to share an album that has greatly inspired them. First up is Matt Drenik of Battleme, who picked BRMC’s 2005 release Howl.
“I remember the first time I heard Howl. I was driving through the middle of America, in a shitty rental car, heading for Ohio. The darkness was unbelievably thick, fastening me to the complete nothingness ahead with only the moon blasting a tiny sliver out through a mess of clouds above. I bought BMRC’s “Howl” a few days earlier, mainly because the cover looked like an old Allen Ginsburg book. And fast forward to here, now, where the darkness seeped its claws into my brain. I put it on and cranking it until the speakers were all but blown, until the darkness couldn’t get any darker. The characters were fierce, the lyrical visions direct, and by the time “Sympathetic Noose” crept into focus, I was all but a lost kid in a world they’d created. This wasn’t just a record, it was a motherfucking vision quest. I stand by their dreams, their failures, their love and loss like a kid stands by his sunken heroes. “Howl” will stand the test of time.”
A huge thanks to Matt for taking part.