"Deus Ibi Est," the opening number, establishes the set's tone and tempo. Instead of dishing out high-volume angst, as he might have done back in the day, Lanegan softly intones self-consciously elegiac couplets over a martial rhythm decorated by Campbell's ethereal warbling. Subsequent offerings include a soothing yet creepy folk air ("Black Mountain"), a melodramatic chantey (the title cut) and assorted Western mythmaking ("Revolver," "Dusty Wreath").
None of this deadpan weirdness will put Lanegan back on top, but he doesn't seem to care -- and good for him. It's about time those Trees quieted down.