For mind-bogglingly successful bands, the “side project” is a time-honored tradition. Feeling a little trapped by success? Want to expand beyond what the fans expect? It’s time for a side project!
For years, Limp Bizkit fans have heard talk of guitar player Wes Borland’s side project: Big dumb Face. For those who have the good sense not to listen to Limp Bizkit, Borland is the weird kid on the playground compared to the rest of the T-shirt and blue jean clad Bizkit boys. Borland is the one dressed in either elaborate alien style make-up or outlandish costumes.
“Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!” is the debut album by Big dumb Face, which is Borland playing every instrument and singing a la Nine Inch Nails.
For those who are even vaguely aware of Borland, they’d be right to think the album is weird. But what no one could be ready for is how godawfulbad “Duke Lion Fights The Terror!!” is.
It’s easy to pick on Limp Bizkit for being a bunch of mutton-headed, ham-fisted mouth breathers who make records that are breathtakingly stupid.
However, there is a certain energy rush that comes with listening to a Limp Bizkit song. Not everyone’s cup o’ tea, but one can see how hormone-crazed boys would be attracted to Limp Bizkit. Borland is the saving grace of the band, consistently backing lead monkey boy Fred Durst’s mush-mouth lyrics with wave after wave of brutal and inventive guitar work.
In addition, in almost every interview with Borland, he cites such interesting people as Bjork and Portishead as influences. So there was a possibility that with the chance to be his own man, he’d be more “Human Behavior” and less “Nookie.”
Borland, under the alias The Tongue Of Colicab, went another direction and released “Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!,” which is a comedy/death-metal/country/new wave influenced concept record. The loose narrative focuses on the adventures of Duke Lion, “the son of man and god and lion,” who keeps “the good from dying.” Then it veers into songs about a “Mighty Penis Laser” and “Voices In The Wall.”
Maybe Ween fans, who are used to someone jerking around in the studio and calling it an album, will appreciate “Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!” The rest of the world, especially Limp Bizkit fans, will take a pass.
What’s wrong with Big dumb Face? Musically, it’s an overdone mess. Borland recorded the album in his home and it comes across as one big in-joke that never should have left his house.
The vocals are bathed in distortion, the guitars are turned to 11 and the drum machines are, too. Every track comes across as “Hey, look at how wacky I’m being now!”
To his credit, Borland keeps the songs short. Most clock in at under three minutes, with the exception of the “bonus” track which is 15 minutes of Borland hacking up phlegm, spitting and coughing.
Lyrically, it’s at the high school band level of fine craftsmanship.
As a member of Limp Bizkit, Borland must have a sweetheart of a deal. One can’t begin to imagine the deal with the devil or perverse favors that were exchanged in order to get this album released. The sane will avoid Big dumb Face and “Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!”
