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II
Pretendo
Reviewed by: John-Michael Bond [Wed, April 16, 2008 @ 12:01:46 AM]
Pretendo might just be onto something with their latest record II. With a hearty mix of Gang of Four grooves and Fugazi -like post punk, they could easily seem like another in a endless wave of generic dance punk groups. And your assumption would be fair, but the devil is in the details and this band has the makes of a wicked devil.
Or in this case two devils in vocalist/bass player John Castro’s mix of melodic DC hardcore shouting and light singing and Stephen Calhoon’s bruised drum set. It’s rare that I find a band worthy of comparisons to San Diego math rock underdogs No Knife, but Pretendo have both the chops and musical sensibilities to back them up. Writing songs with this much technical force in such a way that they never once feel like a chore to listen to is difficult and few bands are up to the task. Thankfully Pretendo never drop the ball in that regard.
II’s only weakness lays in the unassuming nature of some of the songs. Technical music should never be a chore, but it should at least grab your attention and there are at least a handful of times through out the record that I found myself wondering where my old copy of the band’s NES namesake was. The rest of the time however II is a well-crafted record that will truly grab you. At its worst it’s merely ok. But when this album really cracks, such as on “My Architect,” Pretendo show they’ve got the makings of something truly special. Let’s hope their next record is even better.
7 out of 10
RIYL: Hot Snakes, Gang of Four or Fugazi
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