Album: Zulu
Artist: Wrangler Brutes
Released: 2004
Rating: 4.5/5
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/d
It's sad what passes for hardcore these days. Bands like Rise Against and Norma Jean and every shitty metalcore band are being passed off as real hardcore to retarded scene kids who don't know any better. Thank god bands like the Wrangler Brutes are still out there keeping hardcore alive. Sam McPheeters (Born Against, Men's Recovery Project) handles the vox, Andy Coronado (Monorchid) plays guitar, Cundo Si Murad handles bass, Brooks Headley drums and Steve Albini produces.
The band plays through 18 songs in just over 20 minutes. Several of the songs don't pass the one minute mark. Obviously, with songs this short, the playing is intense, speedy and manic. Coronado's guitar lines are often based around quickly descending riffs or single note runs and occasionally lapse into feedback. The bass is pretty much inaudible throughout. The drums bear Albini's trademark sound and anchor the album with fast, steady rhythms and constant fills. McPheeters' vocals are spoken/shouted as fast as possible in an attempt to get as many words in as possible in a short amount of time.
Not only does Zulu maintain the sound of old hardcore, it maintains the spirit, too. The songs aren't all just political sloganeering, there's the same manic sense of humor here that so many bands forget. If you like Black Flag (when they had a lead singer with a normal size neck), The Circle Jerks, The Germs, The Minutemen, Minor Threat, or any other old hardcore bands, then Zulu is essential listening. If you haven't heard them, then Zulu is a good entry point.
In short, dl this mofo now.
Highlights: "Adjust It", "Shank'd", "Unmentionables"
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