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

Whatever John Garcia chooses to do he is going to have a tough road ahead. His part in the legendary Kyuss has granted him an important place in underground rock (despite being signed to a major) history that is going to be difficult to overcome or shadow. Then again, he may not be interested in either.  Some might remember his post Kyuss band Slo Burn which sounded excellent but was a dead on continuation of where Kyuss left off. Since Kyuss was at the time my favorite band I was thrilled with it and was looking forward to the continuation to the only release they squeezed out, the EP Amusing the Amazing (Delicious Vinyl). That never happened.  Instead John Garcia focused his efforts into the more straight ahead rock and roll of Unida and then Hermano.   The latter’s first effort Only a Suggestion (Tee Pee) hit the streets back in 2002 and to these ears came off rather flat.    Same story with 2005’s Dare I Say. Maybe my expectations were too high. To me the music needed more inflections, more punch, more hooks.

So I am glad to report that …Into the Exam Room is Garcia’s best work since that Slo Burn EP. It is also his more varied work since… perhaps ever. The album is rock and roll, plain and simple. Of a timeless quality, as it does not sound necessarily modern. Stylistically, outside of his other work with Hermano, it approximates the work of Unida more than the work of Kyuss. Get rid of all the lo bottom fantasies you might have. Hermano is a much lighter and less fat ass bottom affair.  And though …Into the Exam Room is mostly comprised of guitar heavy songs, it also contains a few acoustic jams (“Bona-Fide”, “Dark Horse II”) and even a wah wah heavy tune that seems to toy with R&B vocals. As the album is named after it (“Exam Room”) I am a bit puzzled. The guitars, especially the solo, are outstanding, but I am not digging Garcia’s approach. He is going for a sort of funky angle. I shit you not, not only in pitch but melody wise it reminded me of that song “Word Up” by Cameo. But we shall not concentrate on that, Hermano is a much better band when it goes for the rock. These are experienced people and Garcia is at the top of his game, showing a ballsy, raw, subdued, melodic and yes, also funkeeeee, approach that continually soars over the music.

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