Mariachi El Bronx (IV)

Los Angeles Mariachi El Bronx return with their fourth album of emotionally resonant, brass-laden anthems blending Mexican traditions with a punk ethos. The album arrives over a decade after their last outing, during which time singer Matt Caughthran returned to the groups core identity as the punk outfit the Bronx, cranking out two albums before resurrecting the bands mariachi alter ego here. Where 2014s III found the group pushing the sonics of their sound, adding subtle synth and electronic flourishes, here they lean into classic mariachi traditions, pumping up the brass, guitar, string, and accordion accents. Which isnt to say theyve lost any of their visceral punk energy. On the contrary, Caughthran crafts soaring, character-driven story songs about lovers on the edge, drunken townies, and as in "Songbird," what feels like a personal confession of a writer searching to recapture his muse. Much of the album has the swaggering, pitched energy of a packed saloon and cuts like "Forgive or Forget," "Bandoleros," and "All Things" wouldnt sound out of place in one of Robert Rodriguez pulp-infused films. Stylistically, Caughthran and the band also strike an impressive balance, always drawing upon their admittedly non-Hispanic punk roots while still respectfully and believably weaving in cumbia, norteno, and bolero sounds. Its especially impressive on cuts like "RIP Romeo" and the soaring "Tie You Down," where they dive into a twirling 3/4 rhythm like a Cali-punk waltz. ~ Matt Collar