| CD REVIEW Gonzales |
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Band: In Spring 2004, guitarist Markey Moon and bassist B. of Italian instrumental Psychedelic Garage Surf act Cosmogringos decided to start up a vocal project…and therefore got together with Pam Christensen (drummer of Crust band Stillicidio) and Mark Simon Hell (guitarist of several Hardcore and Grind bands including La Piovra, Ohuzaru, Nab, and Berlusconi SS). In July of their formation year they already record the song “Dark Mood” for the Desert Sound – The Spaghetti Sessions Vol.1 compilation(issued through Italilian label W*UCK Records). The band finally makes its live debut in October, evidently playing in venues in their area of North-Eastern Italy. They return to the studio in March 2005, this time to record their debut album Hell Drive (issued through their own label Kornalcielo Records and 8 Records later that Summer). On it, 10 tracks influenced by Southern Rock, Garage and Punk. The release is supported by a couple of local and less local gigs, but no real touring is involved, and the band never leaves Italy to play. Live activities are again rather minimal during 2006 (only a total of 9 gigs; a couple of which with Bad Boy Boogie, one in support of Sweden’s Chuck Norris Experiment), but the band (along with other Italian Punk and Hardcore) does contribute their song “It’s Up To You” to DIY compilation La Nostra Scelta. In the Winter of 2006 Christensen leaves, and his place was duely taken by Malcolm B. Cobra of Rockarolla band Meat Torpedoes. November sees the release of a split 7-inch EP with Milano based Post-Punk act Drop The I (and actually, it would seem that the band’s live activities that year were mainly concentrated around their releases). No releases for the band during 2007, but in stead a “plentyful” of live appearances (22 gigs are a lot, compared to their past record), including a couple of small festival concerts (bands they “frequently” played with that year were Re Dinamite, Long Dong Silver, and Pistons). During February 2008 the band enters Vicenza’s Hate Studio, where they record the 10 songs on this album. The track “Check Mate” gives away an early taste of the album, being contributed to Go Down Records” The Heavy Psych Italian Sounds compilation, issued during Spring. The full-length CD is eventually released in December, with 12-inch versions of the album being spread through the Tornado Ride!, Concubine, and Psycho T Records imprints! The music…the first time I listened to the album (which was even before I’d looked into the info) my impression was that this adrenaline-fused Power Garage Rock would’ve been something the likes of The Stooges or New York Dolls might have played, if doped on amphetamines! Nice melodic tunes with catchy guitar lines (always including some nice tensions between the guitarists, and the occasional short solo to boot), but played at an up-tempo pace…like as if the boys had had a blood infusion of Hardcore into their Rock ‘n’ Roll veins! One early reviewer compared the band’s sound to a mix of Thin Lizzy with Misfits (Bam Magazine webzine, Italy), another talks about an hybridisation of Motörhead with Dead Boys (The Ship Magazine webzine, Italy), yet another claims “…there’s definitely an element of Appetite For Destruction era Guns N Roses and a touch of that vulgar Turbonegro, Hellacopters Rock ‘n’ Roll too, but merged with some balls-out Garage Punk alà New Bomb Turks, and some straight up ‘70s Punk Rock too…” (No Front Teeth webzine, UK). It’s really all in the eye of the beholder, I suppose (and except for New York Dolls and GNR, all the above mentioned bands àre listed in Gonzales’ list of influencial bands), but just imagine how that might affect a classic tune like Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire”. Well…you don’t hàve to, because the guys actually covered that track! Regretfully, that track is not one of the 4 the boys posted at myspace.com/thegonzales, but is IS featured as one of 5 live videos (has a bit rawer sound, of course, but it gives an idea). 85/100 Tony. |