Release Date: March 23, 2013
Label: Independent
The newest release from Patron Saint of Bridge Burners is a heavy one. Not in terms of sonic power or distortion, but on an emotional level. The whole album is based around the detrimental effects of war and violence on not just the victims, but the civilians on the "winning" side. The album's title comes from a quote by Kenneth Bainbridge, the physicist that helped the atomic bomb come to fruition. Seconds after the first test Bainbridge turned to J Robert Oppenheimer and said, "Now we are all sons of bitches." Thematically, Now We Are All Sons of Bitches follows this quote in each song. The whole experience laments violence and war, but also considers the role we play in its encouragement and rejection. As the title track says, "We are as the soldier with their guns, we're to blame for the slaughter of our daughters and sons."
"Martyred" is about burning a photo of a deceased soldier. It brings up the point that not every warrior is a hero and that we should not celebrate someone just because they carried a gun. The song has accompanying strings and lush guitars that contrast the rest of the album where sparse guitar and syncopated drums take the forefront. "Untitled (The Sound + The Fury)" is less poignant lyrically but has several great metaphors based around waves and lightening eroding a landscape. The song burns out on slowing drums and then a violin and cello duet. "Need Somebody" oddly features a blast beat and overwhelming guitar clatter that nearly drowns out lyrics about stormy seas and submissive people. "Heaven's Gate Away Team (Do the Hale Bopp)" is about the ritual suicides encourage by Marshall Applewhite based on the belief that a space-ship was tailing the Hale-Bopp comet. The title comes from the patches the dead wore reading "Heaven's Gate Away Team." "Symphorophilia" is a contemplation on death and grieving. The author states he wants to die instantly after notice because he worries that he will die a mentally violent death. This track features a slide whistle wildly chirping along out of tune in the background. "Turbulence" begins with a light ambient drone which fades out to be replaced with a poorly lead drum and guitar combo that continues to play for a minute despite failing to line up in any logical way. "Knife Wound" is a song about the disappointment created by the end of a war in which a combatant feels he hasn't been fighting for a worthy cause because he feels more relief in coming home than making his country proud. It is a logical pairing with "God Damn Us, Every One" as it deals with similar themes and issues. "The Spirit of Oklahoma!" is a description of the destruction and loss created by the atomic bombs dropped in WWII. The singer describes the violence caused by the explosion. The song then shifts to "landmark" crimes that have been committed in America. It then compares the human race to an atomic bomb, as a machine created to "rip flesh and bone." "I'll Take You With Me" is a spoken word description of a un-manned drone attacking, described with the metaphor of a vulture to whining flutes and an angelic chorus. The narrator describes how the "bird" takes the kills back to its nest to feed its "young."
Now We are All Sons of Bitches is one of the most sobering listens of 2013 and is highly recommended.
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