Album Review – Sucioperro – ‘Fused’ – 03.09.2012 – Medals For Everyone

Review by Leo Charlton

Sucioperro make DIY look good. And by that, I don’t mean they put up sheds in bikinis (although, who knows?). No, for their fourth album they’ve ditched their old record label, recorded and produced the album themselves and released it through their own label.

It’s a trend that seems to be growing within the industry, and Sucioperro certainly won’t be the last to go their own way towards seeking a greater amount of artistic control. It can sometimes be a risky strategy, one that culminates in a round of commendable ideas that are unfortunately just
that, at once imaginative yet half-baked. ‘Fused’ is a beast of a different nature.

The once three-strong Scottish contingent have increased their ranks to five, and boy does it show. Opener ‘A River Of Blood’ hits like a mother, the vocals sitting squarely in the mix and being constantly buffeted by the battering drums and thunderous guitars. It holds all the heaviness of the Melvins whilst taking melodic cues from the likes of QOTSA and Foo Fighters. ‘Rabbits In Boxes’ is a particular highlight of this 12-song set, and can only be explained thus: You know when Metallica do slower, more ballad-style songs, and yet they still somehow sound heavy regardless? This is like that. It might have an absence of distortion for the first two minutes of the song, but the drums still snap hard, the clean guitars finding it increasingly hard to hold back. And then they give way, the distortion coming to the fore and ripping you a new one.

There are a few mis-steps, primarily the tracks ‘Mein Kleine Taube’, ‘Wolves’ and ‘You Should Get Some Sleep’ that act more as interludes than out-and-out songs. They slow the pace down to a lethargic grind, an unnecessary distraction when the songs on either side are so fiery and fearsome.

Although at times a little one-dimensional, Sucioperro have riffs and melodies in abundance. If you’re a fan of QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Jesus Lizard, or just like some vicious riffing coupled with creative melodies, then you’ll enjoy this diligent effort on this, their fourth outing.

Recommended: A River Of Blood // Rabbits In Boxes // Where At Dat Wild At

Review by Leo Charlton

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