SOUND BITES

For over a decade, Matt Caughthran and company have been wrecking necks as hardcore stalwarts The Bronx. However, their affinity for mariachi music has been present long enough to warrant their mariachi band alter egos to be treated as a separate entity. Through their surprising 2009 debut and its formidable 2011 follow-up, the project's existence has faced dumbfounded criticism as a mere novelty act. The thing is (as their second record confirmed), Mariachi el Bronx aren't a novelty act; they display a genuine respect for the mariachi genre, honing their songwriting along the way and creating earnest, honest and fun records. The third doesn't waver from the mission, rarely straying from the script and giving us another faithful representation of the group as mariachi players. Just as their second mariachi album's sense of melody informed The Bronx's fourth hard rock album, that album's sharpened hooks find their way to this record. Lead single Wildfires i...

MARIACHI EL BRONX 48 Roses From: Mariachi el Bronx II Released: August 2 When you hear that one of the world's fiercest hardcore groups has a side gig as a mariachi band, you can't help but think "novelty act".  And in 2009, when The Bronx released their first album as Mariachi el Bronx, a lot of folks scoffed at the idea, myself included.  However, upon hearing the album, that novelty didn't wear off.  In fact, there wasn't really any novelty there at all because the band is sincere in their love for mariachi.  So, having pleasantly surprised people who were expecting an awkward, piss-taking venture into the beloved Latino music, Mariachi el Bronx skipped out on making another hardcore record and instead looked to establish themselves with Mariachi el Bronx II .  In short, the novelty still hasn't worn off; this record is as enjoyable as the first, and the songwriting is incredibly sharp.  It's genuine mariachi, played with skill and heart.  A...