Listen to the album
Wow... just... wow... definitely a masterpiece.
This litte treasure here is probably one of my top 3 albums. And it is not even an
LP, it is just an EP! Monster Machismo is a math rock trio with some nonsense lyrics
(often described as absurdists) and an amazing instrumental. I mean, the tapping and
drumming on these tracks are outstanding, the album never fails to hold your attention,
and the music itself changes drastically every 20 seconds! I swear there are more riffs
and passages in a single song then some bands put in their whole album (that is maybe
an overstatement but that is also how it feels). Also, the songs are kind of balanced
(three of them are fast-paced and longer [Moonshine Mashbomb, Time Portal Fiasco, Kiss
Kiss Pessimist] and two are slower and a little shorter [Terrific Whistler and Tisk
Tisk]).
Well, the vocals are an acquired taste. Don't expect the usual emo vocals you get from
lots of math rock bands, Monster Machismo gifts you with a throaty vocal that once you
are used to actually goes pretty well with the whole package.
The group has some live videos on youtube and the audio for some other songs on youtube
and in their bandcamp. Unfortunately, Monster Machismo disbanded. The vocalist/guitarist
formed the short lived The Dan Drake Ensemble, and the drummer formed Cattle Drums.
I have been listening to this EP since when I discovered it (2012), and it will always
have a sweet spot in my heart. This is like the archetypical underground math rock band
to me, and I believe this band makes music the way I think it was supposed to be made,
the songs are very creative and this EP is, despite all its apparent incoherence, a
coherent whole that seems to be formed by some forces that aren't usually found everyday.
(I don't know if the last part makes sense but that is how it seems to me, like this EP
is the product of a special moment in time that won't repeat itself again).
If you liked them, make sure to check their other songs, and also the bands I mentioned
that were formed after the disbandment, although in my opinion none of them hold a candle
to the explosion of music in this EP (and not because they are somewhat bad, on the
contrary: this EP is just too good).