¡Mayday! 
The Thinnest Line (Self-released)
maydayonline.com
This five-track EP is rife with sexy rhythm and blues, with elements of funky hip-hop and solid live instrumentation behind it. It gives an overall lounge feeling for the casual cool cat that dresses well and knows how to order a drink right. The collective is comprised by Plex, Wreckonize, BernBiz, Primo, LT Hopkins, and Gio, and though thuggy as they might sound, this disc has none of that. This can slide neatly between some Earth, Wind, and Fire and a nice showcase of good early-'90s hip-hop. Live they are pretty good, so check 'em out if you can.
The Noumena
Demo (Self-released)
I actually found this EP on the sidewalk by White Room, picking it up
with the same gusto with which I pick up loose change and crumpled
bills. Although there is a Finnish melodic death metal band with the
same name, this is all local. And here we have a nice quarter-hour of
creepy, semi-computerized beats and what may or may not be household
instrumentation, a capella weirdness, awkward mumbling, detached
vocals, and some industrial-style injections. Young Matthew Noumena
bills himself alone as playing everything. The end result is
disturbing ditties for depressed readers of poetry. This makes me think
of E.M. Cioran and e.e. cummings.
Vultures Are Wolves
Vultures Are Wolves (Self-released)
myspace.com/vulturesarewolves
This eight-track disc of pure metal mayhem was a most welcome treat in
my inbox. Not the usual arpeggio-laden, "I studied guitar for 15 years
and I wanna get laid" crap here -- this is the real deal. Solid
musicianship from this trio (Alejandro Tuesta on drums, Juan Blanco
vocals and Jorge Ubieta on guitar and bass) sets the band apart. There
are chunky moments, gritty breakdowns, and vocals that go from Satanic
growls to animalistic screams that can also temper when the song
dictates it. And they got a sense of humor too, like on "The River Took
Dee Snider" and "Cancer Tale of the Hyena." That's just precious, baby.
Think a little Converge, a little Cripple Bastards and Japan's Gauze. I
look forward to more!
-- Abel Folgar
