So I really started paying attention to Small Stone Records a few months back when the new Sasquatch album was gearing up to be released. We used to listen to all the releases from Acid King, Tia Carrera, Dozer, Sons Of Otis and more when we had our “Metal Sundays” at Lou’s, but never really paid much attention to the fact they were all on Small Stone. This new Solace album is just another example of the quality stuff coming from Small Stone. Solid slow and heavy guitar riffs with a rhythm section to keep the songs rolling along and some guitar solos here and there. Cap it all off with some slightly distorted vocals and you got an album that is as good if not better than Monster Magnets “Spine Of God” and that album is one of the best stoner albums in my opinion. If you dig anything heavy you’ll dig this album. Check it out on the player below and go buy it if you like it as much as I do.

The first time I heard this album was when Jeff at Lou’s put it on late one night and I couldn’t comprehend the brutalness of the album. I hadn’t heard anything like this before. Didn’t even know what to think of it really. Was it good. Yes. Did I like it? Not really sure. Would I listen to it again? Maybe, but it would have to be in a setting other than work so I could try and take it all in.

The story behind the album was the band had great press from the album “Holy Mountain” and was signed to London Records. They spent a couple of years writing the album and ended up with a 63 minute song called “Dopesmoker” but the label wasn’t to pleased since they couldn’t market it. The band tried to work with the label and retooled the “album” into a 52 minute track called “Jerusalem” and still the label didn’t want to release it. They were dropped from the label and ended up breaking up shortly after all this chaos happened. Rise Above and Music Cartel ended up releasing what came to be known as “Jerusalem” but the 52 minute track was split into 6 “tracks” even though the band didn’t want it to be split up. This is the version I first heard, the short version of the album. haha In 2003 Tee Pee records finally released the original version of the album the band first turned into London Records. All 63 minutes and 31 seconds of stoner greatness with an added bonus of a live version of the track “Sonic Titan.”

Last year Sleep got back together to play one of the All Tomorrows Parties and played the “Holy Mountain” album from start to finish. They will also be playing a show on in New York doing the same thing. Matt Pike said there would be some West Coast dates some time this year as well. I’m gonna make sure I don’t miss those cause who knows when/if they will do it again. Would be awesome to see em play “Dopesmoker” live as well. Members of sleep have gone on to play in other awesome bands such as Om, High On Fire and Shrinebuilder.

This was the first Melvins album I ever purchased. I had really only heard the Melvins on the “Deep Six” compilation and on this album is a different band than what was on that comp in more ways than one. One reason being the addition of Jared and Cody of Big Business into the lineup of the band. The other is the fact the songs aren’t 15-30 seconds long. Solid album from start to finish with brutally heavy guitar and bass and booming drums thanks to the dual drummer set up. Because of this album I went back and got every Melvins album and have seen them live multiple times. It’s kinda weird how you’ll hear a band and not be that into them then years later give em another shot and wonder why you had not been listening to them the whole time.

I’ve loved this album since it came out in August of 2009. At first I was a little bummed that the vocals were in English only cause mariachi music needs to be sung in Spanish, or so I thought. Matt and Joby did an interview with NPR and gave a very valid reason as to why they chose not to sing in Spanish. Matt doesn’t know how to speak it so it wouldn’t work if he tried to sing it. After hearing the interview I listened to the album again and it just seemed right, like everything finally fell into place. It’s pretty awesome that a punk band from LA could pull off a full on mariachi album and do it just as well as a full time mariachi band. I’ve not seen em play live but they go all out and got the suits hand made to bring it all together. It would be wrong if they played shows in jeans and t-shirts while playing mariachi music. I’ve seen some mariachi guys play in street clothes and it just loses it’s charm.

They’ve done 2 videos for the album so far with the first being the track “Cell Mates”. It features them playing at their favorite Mexican food joint in LA. They should do a tour of nothing but El Torito’s cause they’d fit right in.

Mariachi El Bronx – “Cell Mates” from Our Videos on Vimeo.

the second video was for one of my favorite tracks on the album. The video for “Holy” fits the track perfectly and is shot extremely well.

Mariachi El Bronx – Holy from Our Videos on Vimeo.

Anyway, check out the album. It’s great to put it on and eat some home made guacamole while sipping on an ice cold Tecate.