Reviewer: Sully
Album: Chavez
Artist: The Cockfighters
Label: Matador
Genres: 90s Grunge

FCC CLEAN!!

Overview: Get your flannel out of the closet and let loose your inner grunge beast– The Cockfighters channel Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, Nirvanna, and early Pearl Jam with just a dusting of Metallica to top it off. You May pick up a vaguely Eastern vibe now and then (whatever that means…), but not enough to make is anything other than grunge. The crunchy distorted guitars and tight rhythm section really shine on this three track EP. The vocals are less impressive (it’s hard to compete with Cornell, Cobain, and Vetter), but good enough to make this worthy of the 90s Northwest music scene. PLAY THEM ALL - LOUDLY!

My Suggestions (best to least-best): 3, 1, 2
1. ** Crunchy guitar and drums kick off this track, in a kind of call-and-response interplay; instantly transports you to 90s Seattle - feel the rain!; a great driving tune; listen to loudly and let the deep sonic vibrations permeate your body (in a good way).
2. * This track is a multi-layered feast that builds and builds and then breaks down; slower and darker minor chords prevail; complex drum riffs permeate; stronger vocals would make this a GREAT tune (rather than just good); Cornell would sent this into the stratosphere; winds down with single guitar, much as it started.
3. *** Heavy guitar/bass riffs and great rhythm section really propels this tune (and this band); vocals are good, but not the highlight; mid- to moderately-fast tempo; this is my favorite of the three; fades out with single guitar chord.