Chavez Cartel are an Australian rock band based in Queensland, formed in 2017 who have released three EP’s and have their latest `Red Flag Blues EP` out this month.
This six track extended play opens with `Feeding Four` a grinding grungy number that seems as if it`s trying to shake itself awake from a slumber with vocals that appear distanced or remote. A thumping, pounding fairly mesmerising listen that really stirs to life just after the midpoint. We enjoy a much heavier riff laden piece with ‘7 Year Switch’ a track that is pretty attritional lyrically and appears to refer to a relationship where although one of the protagonists has seemingly moved on, but both are still intrinsically drawn to each other. A kind of can`t live with you, but can`t live without you scenario having once shared your deepest insecurities and vulnerabilities.
‘What Do You Say’ is a pretty probing come questioning number that becomes fairly mesmerising as it sucks you into it`s depths. There`s a real rock n roll swagger about title track ‘Red Flag Blues` a real foot tapping driving song made for a long, lengthy road trip.
There`s a cover of The Stooges` debut single `I Wanna Be Your Dog` and while the song is over fifty years old, the band manage to breathe new life into it and may open it up and unlock it for a younger generation to discover. The E.P. closes out with ‘No One’s Watching Over’ about feeling lost and having a fair assessment of where you’ve gone wrong in life (and right) to get you to where you currently stand. It`s not a dystopian submission but a touch reflective maybe introspective with some haunting guitar chord riffs and a steady pulsing drum beat. A pretty edgy, transcendental nigh on ethereal creation.
Chavez Cartel`s latest extended play `Red Flag Blues` still retains that irresistible blend of grungy, stoner, blues-infused alternative rock but has an at times more reflective, thoughtful, meditative, and absorbed atmosphere about it.
Things seem to be heading in the right direction for the guys as the group head off to the States shortly for their brief debut tour there.
For me, a full-blown album must surely be on the horizon and I for one, cannot wait.
Rating 8.5 / 10
