DISBRIGADE - Catastrofe Mundial (Album Review)

Release Date: April 23, 2020 (Pluteras Records)

The Mighty Decibel's #2 Album of 2020!!!

This is this reviewer's first exposure to Ecuador's Disbrigade, despite them having a good number of previous releases. The band's label lists them as a crust punk band, but to these ears there is a major thrash influence in the songs, so maybe they are best described as a punk-thrash hybrid (although not really crossover in the way that term is used).

Regardless of how you want to classify them, they are one fast, aggressive, noisy bunch of guys (in the best possible way). The Spanish language vocals of bassist Andres Utreras are of a menacing, growling variety and quite appropriate to the product on this album.

The production is not pristine but it is sufficient to discern the instruments. Utreras' bass work in particular is very good, but the guitar work of Andreas PatRix and the drumming of James DisTruxion keep pace just fine. The vocals and bass could be up a bit higher in the mix, but that is probably nit-picking.

Despite the emphasis on speed, the songs are written carefully enough that they do not just merge into a monotonous blur. Most of the songs utilize tempo changes and there are some pretty catchy hooks going on in here. They are probably best compared to New York's Crumbsuckers who many older readers will fondly remember from the 1980s.

If you like DRI, early COC or Cryptic Slaughter, then these guys should turn your crank.

(7.5)