This is how a 7” is supposed to work. Three quick songs and it leaves you wanting more.
DFMK play punked up rock ‘n’ roll. Maybe think of Rocket From The Crypt but with denser, but somehow dancier, songs with a little more force behind them. It’s meant to be played loud as you thrash about and (if it’s your thing) break things. But while this is high energy music, it’s not contrived anger or catharsis in metaphoric form. It feels authentic and uncaged in an Iggy Pop or James Brown kind of way.
Opener “Queroseno” is a fiery song that alternates: left hook, whoa-oh, right hook and has me trying to singalong to the Spanish lyrics I barely understand. (The title translates to “kerosene.”) “Me Consume el Vino” has a little more of that punk ‘n’ roll swagger, but with intense drumming that keeps you off guard and gives extra energy. Having seen the band a few times, it’s really easy to picture their live antics during the breakdown but I’ll just leave it at that, keeping the mystery alive for the rookies out there. Then, about two-thirds through the song, Mr. Cap lets a curdling scream loose. It’s a new technique for the band and it fits perfectly. There’s never a stale moment. The title track is the closer, and it’s one of their best songs to date. There are big punk power chord riffs, but a heavy kick drum and a rhythm guitar buzzsaw breathe new life into the format. Eventually – which means one minute later – there’s an epic breakdown with the song title on repeat over a stomping beat that builds in tempo into a metallic fury that’s over as fast as it began.
Overall the EP is probably only 6 minutes, but it leaves a mark.
What strikes me whenever I give a deep listen to DFMK is how much they pack into a single song. The songs contain movements and energy shifts, yet they’re concise and accessible. It’s high energy and high impact, but it isn’t just verse-chorus-verse-take-a-bow, the band has some serious songwriting skills that are showcased under that punk ‘n’ roll banner, but there are elements of hardcore, metal, soul and a bunch more, buried within and coursing through their veins. This music is alive.
This EP captures the band’s raw energy, which is not an easy task.
