The band, lead by deeply baritoned singer Adam Turla, creates mesmerizing vocals throughout the entire record and probably shows it off best on new tracks “Rumbrave” and “Steal Away.” On some of the songs, you just can't help feel there is a little Johnny Cash running through Turla’s voice. Not many times are you going to hear me rave about the use of cello in modern music, but cellist Sarah Balliet’s work creates a eerie dynamic that gives the music its edges on songs like “Ball And Chain” and “The Black Spot.”

Formed in 2000, this is Murder By Death’s fourth record. The album honors classic archetypes, such as Homer’s literary cornerstone “The Odyssey.” The band worked with Grammy winner producer Trina Shoemaker, whose worked the tables for Queens of the Stone Age and Iggy Pop. Even though the band’s sound is now light years away from the everyday modern rock radio scene, the band has guest vocalists such as My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way and Thursday’s Geoff Rickly on previous records.

Murder by Death had been touring with Clutch earlier this year and is now out on their own tour that will take them to the end of May. If you're in the Carolinas or Florida, they'll be in your area for the next few weeks before circiling around the south and midwest (with a May 1st date in Grand Rapids) before heading to the West Coast. 

Murder By Death plays the Black Cat in Washington, D.C. tonight and the Local 506 tomorrow in Chapel Hill, N.C. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at www.murderbydeath.com.