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A
javelina is a medium size mammal of the family of the
Tayassuidae. They are also known as peccaries and pretty much
look like the uglier, hairier cousin of the swine. The weirdest
thing about them is their two lower fang-like teeth. Or tusk,
whatever you wanna call it. Even weirder, javelinas can rub
their tusks to create a chattering noise as a way to protect
themselves from potential predators. Google ‘javelina’
and just take a look at them damn things. They make Dracula feel
like a total vegetarian.
That said, I
can see why this Philadelphia quartet opted for Javelina as
their moniker. I mean, it is certainly smaller than say a
mastodon, but more powerful than a pelican and uglier than a
white lion. And ugly this music it is. But also far more agile
than say the jungle movements of an actual peccary. Or what the
appropriately titled opener “1000 Pound Man” might indicate,
with its sluggish pace disclosing little of what is about to
come.
For that you
will have to pay attention and endure the brutal beating this
band propels during the first almost-grooveless three songs. On
this powerful self-titled debut Javelina plays it straight.
Straight to the sludge hole that is. There are some excellent
moments here, “Architect” for instance is one of those third
generation blues spawned stoner rock tunes that’ll give you a
more intense whiplash than a head on collision in the autobahn.
The whole thing is quite pretty. But before you get to
Javelina’s pretty core you must endure the first moments of this
debut. The afore mentioned “1000 Pound Man” twists and turns
like a maggot in a frying pan, while “Let the Blood Flow” seems
to sonically portrait unspeakable carnivourous acts via those
cruel sounding vocals. “From “Ghost Pain” on Javelina rises as a
more versatile beast. A pissed off animal willing to let
guitarist Chubbrock carve those tusks into unspeakable shapes.
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