By Dan Lima Staff Writer The popularity and recognition of singer-songwriters may vary from artist to artist. Names like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey are recognized all across the world, whereas artists such as the late Jeff Buckley or Fiona Apple are more known within music circles but still are hailed as iconic musicians of their time. Enter Dax Riggs, equally talented but much less appreciated. Compared to his contemporaries in this style, the Indiana-born singer has mostly operated in the darker corners of the music world throughout his career. Most of Riggs' cult fame comes from his time in Louisiana extreme metal band Acid Bath during the ’90s as their vocalist until their dissolution in 1997. Since then, Riggs kickstarted countless short-lived projects such as Agents of Oblivion and deadboy & the Elephantmen before releasing music under his own name. After two albums and a few shows, Dax Riggs went on a decade-long hiatus with no information on what he would be doing. As the years went by, nobody really expected to hear from Riggs anymore - until he released "deceiver" in October last year and announced his follow-up album "7 Songs for Spiders." Fans were filled with disbelief and excitement as this was his first album in over 15 years, and they finally got their wishes granted on Jan. 24 with "7 Songs for Spiders." Opening with the aforementioned "deceiver," Dax Riggs sets the tone for the album in his typical fashion, picking up right where he left off. The bluesy bassline and fuzzy guitars complement his soulful crooning, adding a dark but groovy feel. The lyrics deal with occult themes surrounding death and darkness, demons and deities - nothing that Mr. Riggs is unfamiliar with. The following track, "Sunshine Felt the Darkness Smile," opens with somber piano keys and flutes, giving it a funeral march-like impression. Riggs comes in with the lines, "Jesus never laughs, Lucifer don't cry / You know every man got to lay down and die" in a voice powerful enough to summon the spirits of Layne Staley and Mark Lanegan. "Even The Stars Fall" picks up the tempo with a driving guitar riff and drumming while Riggs peppers in his imaginative lyrics, "I wanna get undead in the shadow of your smile / I wanna get undead just for a little while." The following track, "Blues For You Know Who," slows down the tempo again for a more relaxed sound and Dax Riggs continues his lyrical themes centered on occultism, darkness, and Louisiana culture. "Ain't That Darkness" and "Pagan Moon" are pretty similar in tone, both sounding slow and nocturnal with themes of darkness and spiritual forces. While still being high-quality songs of their own, they are arguably the weaker points of the album. "Graveyard Soul" closes the album in a similar vein as "Even the Stars Fall" with Riggs' soulful vocals, up-tempo guitars and percussion, and more references to the undead. Thus, he ends the album on a simple yet groovy note. Where most comeback albums are usually disappointing, "7 Songs for Spiders" is one of the few that are worth the wait. Here, we see Dax Riggs simply using his guitar and voice to do what he does best and creating a masterpiece. The credit doesn't go to just him, however. Riggs is accompanied by a solid backing band and guest musicians aiding them in a few songs, whether it be additional guitars, the electronic wind instrument, or the fiddle. Had Dax Riggs not gone on a break from music, this record would be over 10 years old by now. It's not necessarily a return to form since he has never declined in quality or strayed away from his traditional blues rock sound, but it goes to show how he doesn't need to change himself to create stellar art. The one downside of the record is the length, clocking in at 28 minutes. Where the typical length is a little over 30 minutes or more, much like his previous records, this album flies by really quickly. But then again, beggars can't be choosers. It's better to have something than to have nothing, and his fans would agree. Dax Riggs' return is simply satisfactory. Having already done a standalone show supporting the album back in February, and embarked on Acid Bath’s reunion shows, it's safe to say this will be quite the year for our Southern swamp resident. If you enjoy styles like blues rock or grunge, do not hesitate to put on your face and sing along to "7 Songs for Spiders.” Rating: B+ Got my soul tangled up in this album