¡PENDEJO! - Atacames (2014)
Though ¡PENDEJO! hails from Holland,
they've managed to channel a significant amount of influence from the
southern desert rock of the States, delivering it in a passionate
Spanish outpouring over hard-chugging guitar and bass and some
inspired drums. Something I wouldn't have minded hearing put to a
little more use on the album was the occasional breaking-out of
horns, as deployed to snazzy effect in “Amor Y Pereza”. Their
brassy appearance is kept infrequent enough to surprise and deliver
some real impact when needed, and while most of the album is in
high-energy rock-out-with-your-balls-out mode, the group does switch
things up and slows it down once or twice. “Amiyano” really
stands out in this sense, but there's also a spectacular slow-grind
bridge in “Camarón”, shortly before another sharp horn
interlude, that really demands and rewards some close listening. Add
on some near-sludgy (minus the misanthropy) slow-swing grooves in
most of the other songs, and they shine right across the speed
spectrum.
Ear-hooks of melody aside, these
moments of relative calm work something like the popping bursts of
horns in the way they provide a quick spritz of fresh air before the
band throws itself back into the grit and beats, while also being
fantastic grooves in their own right. There's also a great sense of
flow from song to song, with the band neatly managing the momentum of
things, enough to almost sound as though it was recorded in one long
and amazing afternoon. As I hear it, the album pulls all its diverse
sounds together for a great finish in the final track, which you can
find below. Not one to miss if you're a fan of inventive and heavy
stoner rock, Atacames is
currently available in digital, CD, and vinyl copies (though I expect
the LPs will soon disappear as word off mouth spreads about this
band). Two thumbs up from RWTD.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Acid
Elephant, Powered Wig Machine, Buzzov•en, Olde Growth, Fear Itself
~
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