Primus, ‘Tragedy’s A’Comin’ – Song Review

The last time Primus released a new album, Bill Clinton was in the White House, ‘The Matrix’ was in theaters and everybody was partying like it was 1999 . . . cause, well, it was 1999.

Yes, it’s been nearly a dozen years since the band unleashed ‘Antipop’ on the world, and honestly that disc was so dense with funky goodness that maybe Primus mastermind Les Claypool thought 12 years was the perfect length of time to absorb all of it. Considering the eclectic list of ‘Antipop’ guest musicians -- Metallica’s James Hetfield, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, among others -- it wouldn’t be surprising.

Now Claypool and the boys are back with ‘Tragedy's A'Comin,’ the first track available off their upcoming comeback album, ‘Green Naugahyde.' Claypool lays down some thick, slap-bass grooves, drummer Jay Lane (returning for the first time since 1989) matches it with a funky beat and guitarist Larry ‘Ler’ LaLonde goes to town with some trebly, dissonant guitar raffage. Put that all together and you have the ingredients of a prime Primus cut -- albeit one with rather disturbing lyrical undertones foreseeing impending doom to our planet.

"Lyrically, this is me focusing on eventual demise or at least the notion that big rain is coming and at some point I'm going to get pretty f---ing wet," Claypool tells Spin magazine. "Who says lemmings can't dance as they go over the cliff?"

‘Green Naugahyde' hits stores Sept. 13. The band has lined up a North American tour that is set to kick off Sept. 23 in Boston and run through an Oct. 22 gig in Los Angeles

Listen to Primus, 'Tragedy's A'Comin''