There was this band from San Diego called Rust that’s been on my mind due to nostalgia among other things. They were these fuzzed out Grunge rawkers who never went anywhere but the full-length and preceding EP they dropped were simply marvelous.
The reason I’m waxing poetic about this extinct dinosaur from a forgotten era is because those are the kinds of sonic vibes I get (Combined with the spirit of Eleven’s Natasha Shneider) when listening through Puta Volcano who hail from a world away in Athens, Greece and proving once again that the sonic tapestry of music is borderless.
But I digress.
“Re-Entry” is just under a minute long but the mood it sets in those opening seconds of AMMA, PV’s third LP, leading into “Entropica” is everything! “Entropica” itself is a mid-tempo fuzzed out jam highlighting hypnotic riffs from Alex Pi, Steve Stefanidis’ metronome-like drumming, and Anna’s unreal and unclassifiable pipes.
“Venus Lullaby” transports listeners to the ’90’s for a Screaming Trees redux with hints of Lacuna Coil especially with Anna’s delivery here. “First Light” speeds it all up considerably on a shreddy little number that has Puta Volcano really flexing their Heavy chops while “Black Box” treads Undertow territory, especially with the way that Bookies’ bass work brings to mind the low end from Tool’s landmark record.
“Sugar Cube” is subtle yet intricate with Anna adopting a comforting drawl that’ll entice listeners before she opens up for a raucous payoff fueled by Stefanidis’ ferocious beats and Pi’s hearty riffage. “Echoing Icons” is a haunting instrumental that’s a brief reprieve and allows listeners to refuel their tanks before the onslaught of aural delights begin again as is the case when “Primitive Data” gets right back into the thick of it with a propulsive blast of riffs and drumming that never lets up.
“Apnea” is another shredder but then strays from the beaten path to reveal this massive anthem. “Torus” and “Space Blanket” are like the flip side of one another as the former burns slow and bright while the latter, seemingly a straightforward rawker to start, morphs into a big, bad behemoth of dense riffs. Speaking of big, nothing on AMMA is quite as big as the epic finale “Kassandra’s Gift” which harnesses all of Puta Volcano’s songwriting might into a neat package with swirling riffs and broad vocal passages backed by a thunderous rhythm section that’ll leave fans yearning for more.
AMMA drops on March 13th through The Orchard. You can pre-order this gem digitally or physically now by clicking here or here. For the latest on Puta Volcano, head on over to their socials by clicking here or here.