Stabbing Westward Howls on Its Own Turf

The darkly gothic band Stabbing Westward has been branded a Nine Inch Nails knockoff. No wonder, since it has shared drummers and offers a similarly rage-filled, brooding style.

At the Whisky on Tuesday, Stabbing Westward’s self-flagellating lyrics and love for electronic gadgetry did resemble that other band’s. Singer Christopher Hall even looked like Trent Reznor while bathed in unflattering crimson light during “What Do I Have to Do?,” a KROQ-friendly howl about unrequited love.

But the Chicago quintet stepped out of the NIN shadow with its high-voltage show. Primitive at the core, accomplished and tightly synchronized on the surface, Stabbing Westward surpassed mere shtick, pounding out emotive sounds that felt piercingly true as it thrashed through all but one song from its new album, “Wither Blister Burn + Peel.”

While Hall’s lyrical angst doesn’t sound tremendously novel, it’s hard to doubt that the longing, regret and self-disgust he expressed come from his own personal trove. Stabbing Westward’s show funneled Hall’s dark passion into buoyant energy and cathartic aggression.

“This is a song about obsession, like all our other songs,” quipped Hall, who wore what appears to be Stabbing Westward’s band uniform, a black T-shirt and leather pants. As contrived and potentially embarrassing as its pessimistic and emotion-packed act could be, Stabbing Westward’s set and sound felt honest--and practically like its own.