THE MELVINS
Nude With Boots
(Ipecac)

HERMANO
...Into the Exam Room
(Regain)

UNLEASHED
Hammer Battalion
(SPV)

RUN YOUR MOUTH
3-Way HC/Garage Split
(Rumour Control)

CABRóN
Mexican Shoe Thief
(Robot Enemy)

A HORSE CALLED WAR
Stumble at Every Hurdle 

(Calculon)

HEATDEATH
S/T 

(Conspiracy)

MORE REVIEWS

OK, I truly disliked the first song from this EP. I thought it (“Colleagues”) was terribly placed. More so, I think that judging by the quality of the rest of the material, it should have been completely left out. It’s not an accurate indicative of what Cabron can do. But as always, maybe it’s me. I am a bit biased towards pop punk songs. I love melody, sure thing, but this one got me thinking too much about bands l don’t give two shits about. Like NOFX. 

“Letdown” is much better. Not only the vocals are stronger (and not just because they are angry) because they are delivered without that annoying sing along quality that is so…errr….. pop fucking punk. I also dig some of the guitars, especially towards the middle where they run alone.  In contrast to “Colleagues” it almost sounds like a different band.

It’s not a lucky strike, “Shut Yer Hole” runs at mid tempo, is simple as a stick but is also concise and direct. And yes, the vocals totally lack that annoying quality from “Colleagues”.  Should I judge all songs against the worst one? Why not?  Sincerity is the mother of all…whatever.  “Searchers” is solid. The way the chorus breaks is not to my liking. It sort of ruins the nice riff and the flat but building verse. Choruses are sometimes supposed to epitomize the song, are supposed to pack a punch, but Cabron drop the ball here. Then again, some may like it.

“Hobo Sex” is nice. So nice indeed it may be the best song of Mexican Shoe Thief. I even dig the quiet passage at the middle, its fast re-awakening and faster pick up. That’s punk well-played. Cabron promises here, they are upping the ante of their own game.   Are they their own worst enemy? Mexican Shoe Thief closes with “Silencio”, which shows yet another side to this San Diego band. It’s unorthodox in the way Cabron approaches the music, the riff is incongruent and noise based, with feedback let free and screamed flat vocals. It’s a nice touch even when the punk is picked up and the band trashes misconceptions for the closing line ‘silencio, no es banda, es una grabacion’.  Not bad at all. Now, if it wasn’t for that damn first song…

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