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Four-piece surf garage rock band Mondo Trasho have been hibernating in the corners of the Merseyside scene over the past year, after making a name for themselves on the gig circuit before COVID-19 swept the world.
More recently, they released the first of a trilogy of self-produced EP’s, ‘That’s Trash’, which showcased their first offering of Echo and the Bunnymen meets The Doors inspired rock, with an extra pinch of Dead Kennedys.
Groovy hip-shaking bass lines, blaring guitar riffs with a heavy tremolo and a washed-out organ have become somewhat of a staple for the Merseybeat band, and their latest offering, ‘More Trash’ is no exception.
The riff to opening track ‘Bad Seed’ feels instantly familiar, with its crawling jangly guitar riff setting the EP’s tone within the opening seconds; there is a real 60’s rock feel to the track but it’s drowned out in mystery and psychedelia.
Tight, toe-tapping drums lead the way over the Latin inspired track, as the lyrics tell the story of a boy born bad, and the grief he causes is mother.
Following track ‘Freaks’ sounds like something Fidlar would’ve made back in 2013 if only they had an organ handy.
It’s a chaotic garage rock banger that rides the ebbs and flows of the jam with ease. The bass on the track creates a mysterious atmosphere for the verses, which eventually explodes into a belting chorus.
The organ cuts through the mix and is headbang worthy for sure, and the shrieking guitar solo towards the latter half of the track is the cherry on top.
‘Freaks’ feels as though it’s cut from the same cloth as Queens of the Stone Age and early work from The Black Keys. Its short but powerful; the sort you want to play again immediately after hearing it.
The organ is even more prominent on closer ‘1236’, which sees the Liverpool lads opt for a blues inspired surf sound. Yet again, the riffage on the track feels immense; it’s the sort of song that would sound incredible in an intimate venue dripping with sweat.
The vocals on the track feel reminiscent to that of Kaleo’s Jökull Júlíusson, with their raspy and almost slurred nature, it really helps capture the tracks darker nature.
It would be rude to ignore the drums though, as they really elevate the track to a higher level, maintaining the tracks atmosphere and not letting it slip.
‘More Trash’ pays homage to rocks dense history, often borrowing and innovating on older sounds. Mondo Trasho are doing something that nobody else in the city is doing, and for that this EP is a must listen for any avid music fan.