Review
Twenty Inch Burial
How Long Will We Laugh and Smile?

Immigrant Sun (2005) Kevin Fitzpatrick

Twenty Inch Burial – How Long Will We Laugh and Smile? cover artwork
Twenty Inch Burial – How Long Will We Laugh and Smile? — Immigrant Sun, 2005

Like all of you, when i think of Portugal, I think of three things: the architect Miguel von Hafe P'rez, tungsten mines, and metal. I know what you're thinking - I'm biased. Sure, we're all familiar with bands like Holocausto Canibal, Acromaniacos and Bizarra Locomotiva - all of which are named after famous Portuguese papal candidates. But no, be strong! Just because they're Portuguese, they're not necessarily the automatic "shizz".

Twenty Inch Burial's How Much Will We Laugh and Smile? is a pretty decent listen when there's nothing good on the Circulodefogo show. Their second full-length release, not including 2 EP's and the split release with New Jersey's With Resistance, How Much Will We Laugh and Smile? - hence fore to be known as Smile, because I'm just too goddamn lazy - shows a band not afraid to kick our respective pricks into the course red dust of Portugal with openers like "Five Forward" and "Letters of Discontempt.' It's enough to make me wish I was a young matador again - happily running through the streets of Lisbon with ripe tomatoes purchased at the local Safewayos.

Rui Miguel Br's knows how to belt 'em out with the best of 'em, and along with....ok, just admit it...if I told you the guitarists were Ricardo da Rocha Correia and Jo'o Pedro Fulg'ncio, are you really going to remember? I didn't think so, you racist scum. Just remember they're better than the guitarist from [insert your favorite not-very-good-band here], so the sooner you accept it, the better off you'll be.

I could go into more detail, but why? You already know you'll buy Smile. And why? Because they're from Portugal. And they'll kick your mama's dead ass.

Twenty Inch Burial – How Long Will We Laugh and Smile? cover artwork
Twenty Inch Burial – How Long Will We Laugh and Smile? — Immigrant Sun, 2005

Recently-posted album reviews

Street Eaters

Opaque
Dirt Cult (2025)

Sometimes I'm surprised at how averse I am to change. Hearing that Street Eaters had expanded to a trio caused me more trepidation than I want to admit -- and, like most fear of change, it was all for naught. The band hasn't changed and they aren't spilling over with annoying guitar solos either. They just have a little more … Read more

Faulty Cognitions

They Promised Us Heaven
Dead Broke Records (2025)

On their debut, Somehow, We Are Here, Faulty Cognitions made their statement. This wasn't a garage-punk band in the style of the members' previous bands (Low Culture and Shang-A-Lang, among others). It's a guitar-first rock indie-punk band schooled by the college rock of the 1980s. This time around the transition has been so seamless that maybe the debut was a … Read more

The Penske File

Reprieve
Gunner Records, Stomp Records (2025)

I used to dislike punk music where people sing. And, well, I'm still not super fond of it but there is an exception to every rule. The Penske File are one of those exceptions and maybe it's because while they have a singer (as compared to a "vocalist"), it's still authentic and conveys that everyperson vibe I seek in the … Read more