Biznaga, “Sentido del Espectaculo” Available: Jan. 20 via Slovenly Recordings, presumably on digital formats, compact disc and standard black vinyl.
2017 begins with a sonic onslaught guitar blast and a confession. First the confession: Between the formative seventh- and eighth-grade years, I was a chubby, prepubescent, smartass. For whatever reason (reason: girls) I decided to take French over Spanish, German, and Latin at Lewis & Clark Junior High. I thought this a decent idea. So perhaps I was a chubby, prepubescent, dumbass.
Now to the sonic onslaught guitar blast. Slovenly Recordings, home to slew of incredible national and international rock acts such as Acid Baby Jesus, J.C. Satan, Sultan Bathery, The Okmoniks, Los Vigilantes and many, many more open the year with a scorcher. Hailing from Madrid, Biznaga massages my ego, telling me it is all right that I don’t understand more than staccato basics of Spanish. While I have no clue what they’re singing, the sentiment is apparent, urgent, and chock-full of tight-wound hooks and those aforementioned blasts of guitar. There is something familiar to the songs coming from this Spanish four-piece, but they are only anecdotal touchstones, making their brand of fast-paced rock feel fresh but also reminiscent. Thankfully, music knows little bounds. Rock ’n’ roll is rock ’n’ roll is rock ’n’ roll.
Recommended for fans of Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash, Bad Brains, Buzzcocks, or Euro-infused punk rock.
— Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
