BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICITY: Brotherhood of Electricity
7" vinyl
$4.00
REVIEWS
Maximum Rocknroll Review
Brotherhood of Electricity is an all-star melting pot of Texas blues-punk raunch and Pacific Nothwest mod noise. Take the trademark Texas guitar fuzz/scuzz of Alex Cuervo (Feast Of Snakes) and slather it atop of a booming, noisy rhythm courtesy of folks from Tractor Sex Fatality and Manikin. An oddly effective combination, and deserving of multiple listens. More please.
-Mitch Cardwell
Now Wave
In my book, The Brotherhood of Electricity's debut 7-inch is the best thing Super Secret Records has released to date. It was recorded way back in early 2004 - what a shame a recording this hot sat in the can for almost two years! The Brotherhood of Electricity, a project featuring Austin scene fixtures Alex Cuervo (This Damn Town, Gospel Swingers) & Alyse Mervosh (Manikin, The Winks) and Seattle's Dave Bressenhoffer (The Gimmicks, The Blowup, Tractor Sex Fatality), brings to mind the tuneful hardcore punk of 7 Seconds and Minor Threat, but with even more melody and an added pinch of organ-driven '60s garage rock. Produced by the great Tim Kerr, this record is the proverbial breath of fresh air. When so much of today's so-called "punk" music sounds slavishly tailored for the approval of some specific sub-genre niche, it's awesome to hear a band like this...a band that isn't trying to pander to an audience or affect a cool image, but instead just wants to play music that's powerful and exciting and simply a blast to listen to. Yeah!
A-side cut "Invisible" is the big hit here. It's a fast and melodic song with an anthemic chorus, snappy drumming (courtesy of the underrated, rock-solid Mervosh), buoyant guitar riffs, and an urgent, heartfelt vocal. Fans of early hardcore or the classic sing-along punk of the Misfits and Naked Raygun will definitely dig this tune. Yet its booty-shaking groove and high energy garage tinge distinguish it from your typical old school revivalist number. B-side opener "The Hearse" (originally recorded by the Gospel Swingers) is peppy and rockin' as well, replete with a catchy chorus and great "whoa-oh" backing vocals. "Nothing" is a Negative Approach cover. It's not bad.
Given the immense geographical distance separating members of this band, it's unlikely that the Brotherhood of Electricity will have a prolific recording career. But so what? Prolific bands are a dime a dozen, and most of them churn out record after record and never exceed the upper fringes of mediocrity. If this is the only record the Brotherhood of Electricity ever makes, at least it's a great one.
---Lord Rutledge, opinionated asshole