Album review: Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx IV

It’s safe to say that back in 2009 when punk rockers The Bronx released their self-titled debut by their mariachi alter-egos, no-one would have thought this enterprise would still be going 17 years later. What started as a playful experiment in paying tribute to the thriving mariachi tradition that has suffused their native Los Angeles, has become an identity all its own – vibrant and intoxicating.

And while this fourth Mariachi El Bronx record isn’t a huge leap from its predecessors, musically speaking, that’s not the point of this. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the music being celebrated here, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the sheer exuberance of Forgive Or Forget and El Borracho, songs that take you somewhere else entirely, emotionally and geographically. It’s not all sunshine, however – there’s more than a little grit finding its way into your boots on the journey. Bandoleros is a tougher, more rebellious cut, its jauntiness undercut with talk of ‘Gods of war’ and the belief that, ‘Life is just a game / Death is our reward.’

Throughout IV, storytelling is paramount, with each song a vehicle for a character to share their experiences, such as a gambler in Gambler’s Tale, who’s ‘Best when his back’s to the wall’, finding romance and philosophy in even the most downtrodden, unglamorous accounts. Those narratives are given tremendous clarity and warmth by Matt Caughthran. For all the musical beauty and intricacy here, it’s Matt’s voice that pours honey on your heart and drives things forward.

With the recent Bad Bunny Superbowl Half Time Show bringing Latin pride to American screens at a fraught time, it’s great to have a band from the U.S. sharing the sentiment too. Here The Bronx have, once again, created an intriguing and brilliant mariachi masterpiece.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: The Bronx, Dropkick Murphys, Frank Turner

Mariachi El Bronx IV is released on February 13 via ATO.