"Doom Nacional" is the latest minimalist stoner rock workout out from LOS NATAS-ARARAT frontman-guitarman Sergio Chotsourian, who is now standing tall center stage for SOLDATI (2016), his project of rock pesado y libertad . Sergio points out that this is a more mature project than his previous bands, "a place of mental, spiritual and physical healing." Righteous. After 24 years in bands playing live music based in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina and touring all over the world, the man knows where he is heading and what he wants to hear in his art.

'From Skulls' is big-bottom bass-balls in a hypno-core monotone drone with not much in the way of a dynamic, more of a trance exercise in grunge. Alfredo Felitte does his best to lift this tune off out of the elementary repetitiveness of the song, but it stumbles along in it's own rut. 'Suicide Girl' cuts and kills with the snare drum pounding away and features Sergio singing the same melody line as 'From Skulls' while sneaking a bit of wah-wah pedal and pseudo SLAYER chromatic string and ride cymbal riffing into the tune. The pealing vocals don't change much at all on this release which is totally sung in Spanish. 'Whiskey Negro' catches some groove while the guitar tones disappear into an elevator music mix whilst Alfredo valiantly pounds away on the drums to and fro, adding some sparkle here and there. This is my favourite song on "Doom Nacional"

'Los Secretos De Shiva' is a mock meditation in painting hard rock wet then begging us to watch it dry. 'Un Tren Al Sol' catches some KYUSS desert wind from well used drum and gitano riffing, a squack of wah pedal then pretty much it is watching the groove boil. Knuckle dragging troglodyte chucker 'Solar Tse' has some BORIS astral charm, mostly from being sung in a language other than the King's English. This is another favourite song. BRANT BJORK has a similar minimalistic shtick as while aside from drums, he is no fantastic or complex musician - but the dude can write unbounded genre songs that establish a vibe like nobody else, and here I am referring to his recorded works. I mention BRANT as Sergio has a comparable minimalistic music aesthetic and he brings the 70's rocker image to life.

Unfortunately, "Doom Nacional" has a vocal mix that is a bit too unwieldy and handicaps the music for me. The pacing is bacano, taking a stroll by MONOLORD park at closing time and without a torch to light the way - it's all by feel here. I think this material would lift off nicely when presented in a live concert venue. Have a listen. Apes must attack human city! Fight back! Come! Fight for the dani bandolier Spotify playlist of reviewed bands!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/272H3UBARsuksY3BqU0CzP?si=h8iXLurqS_CUxFMXCWENWQ