Gypsy Pistoleros – Church Of The Pistoleros
Flamenco-punk glam rock 'n' roll band the Gypsy Pistoleros have followed up 2023’s impressive Duende A Go Go Loco! with the equally impacting Church of the Pistoleros.
Produced by and co-written with Dave Draper (Ginger Wildheart, Nickelback, The Professionals, Terrorvision), Church Of The Pistoleros also coincides with a change in the ranks, ex South Of Salem drummer Pip "Pistolero" Sampson having recently joined Gypsy Lee Pistolero (lead vocals), Kerry Pistolero White (bass, backing vocals) and Shane Pistolero Sparkz (guitars, backing vocals).
Kicking off proceedings is the title track, which fittingly opens
with a church sermon that reimagines The Lord’s Prayer for these darker days ("give us today, our daily dread...")
The song then explodes into a Pistoleros power-pop/ punk anthem with a sing-along chorus that’s guaranteed to go down a storm at live gigs. There are also some clever arrangements here, including an unexpected stop/go before the second chorus and a very effective staccato middle eight.
The energy and intensity continues with 'Shadow Walker,' a big-beat, edgy and vocally snarling punk-infused rocker that, again, should be a killer addition to the live set.
'Whatever Happened to the Old Town' is a mid-tempo number that, with its opening descending chord structure and vocal arrangement, reminds of Mott the Hoople (no bad thing).
However the song soon switches up to a full-throttle power-pop section before transforming again to a rock number. The ever-shifting results are a highlight of the album.
The short and sharp 'Last Train to Nowhere,' with roots in new wave punk, is best described as the Ramones meeting the Manic Street Preachers (again, no bad thing).
Yet another that is guaranteed to get the crowd going at the gigs.
Like Duende A Go Go Loco!, the new album features a punked-up cover of a well-known hit, in this case 'Livin’ la Vida Loca' (the previous album's offering was 'Come On Eileen').
While the band make a good, fun time fist of Ricky Martin’s smash hit (which is sure to go down well if performed live), there’s an argument to be made that there is no need for any covers, given the strength and weight of the Pistoleros own material.
'I’m in Love With Myself' is a fun number that sounds like a bubble-gum song from the 60s with modern production. Great little song that it is, it's eclipsed by following number 'Last of the Comancheros.'
A modern Tex-Mex song (Pistoleros style, natch), the vocal deliveries in the verse sections remind of early Bowie, while dropping the memorable choruses to half-time makes them even more effective.
The inclusion of a trumpet part increases the Mexican vibe, with a touch of Spaghetti Western.
Another highlight.
'Dance Naked in the Rain' is three minutes of highly effective Pistoleros rock, complete with an excellent chorus and driving rhythm parts. That there are also echoes of The Cult here does the song no harm.
The lighter pop-rock approach of 'Hide Behind a Smile' makes for another winner, bolstered by a deceptively complex arrangement that maintains the interest.
'The Prayer,' which serves as both the closing number and bookend to 'Church Of The Pistoleros,' is another with a cleverly shifting arrangement, swivelling from full on power-punk to half-time rock.
It also features a tasteful if short guitar solo, that follows the song’s melody part.
Welcome to the Church Of The Pistoleros.
With a highly individualistic sound and approach, they may already be preaching to the choir, but there is always room for more in the congregation of "outcasts, the misunderstood, the shy, the quiet, and disenfranchised of society" that the band both welcome and embrace.
Amen to that.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Church Of The Pistoleros will be released on 2nd May, and distributed through Earache Records.
The album will be available digitally, on CD and in four Vinyl variants.
Pre-order (all formats) here: https://earache.com/collections/gypsy-pistoleros
Produced by and co-written with Dave Draper (Ginger Wildheart, Nickelback, The Professionals, Terrorvision), Church Of The Pistoleros also coincides with a change in the ranks, ex South Of Salem drummer Pip "Pistolero" Sampson having recently joined Gypsy Lee Pistolero (lead vocals), Kerry Pistolero White (bass, backing vocals) and Shane Pistolero Sparkz (guitars, backing vocals).
Kicking off proceedings is the title track, which fittingly opens
with a church sermon that reimagines The Lord’s Prayer for these darker days ("give us today, our daily dread...")
The song then explodes into a Pistoleros power-pop/ punk anthem with a sing-along chorus that’s guaranteed to go down a storm at live gigs. There are also some clever arrangements here, including an unexpected stop/go before the second chorus and a very effective staccato middle eight.
The energy and intensity continues with 'Shadow Walker,' a big-beat, edgy and vocally snarling punk-infused rocker that, again, should be a killer addition to the live set.
'Whatever Happened to the Old Town' is a mid-tempo number that, with its opening descending chord structure and vocal arrangement, reminds of Mott the Hoople (no bad thing).
However the song soon switches up to a full-throttle power-pop section before transforming again to a rock number. The ever-shifting results are a highlight of the album.
The short and sharp 'Last Train to Nowhere,' with roots in new wave punk, is best described as the Ramones meeting the Manic Street Preachers (again, no bad thing).
Yet another that is guaranteed to get the crowd going at the gigs.
Like Duende A Go Go Loco!, the new album features a punked-up cover of a well-known hit, in this case 'Livin’ la Vida Loca' (the previous album's offering was 'Come On Eileen').
While the band make a good, fun time fist of Ricky Martin’s smash hit (which is sure to go down well if performed live), there’s an argument to be made that there is no need for any covers, given the strength and weight of the Pistoleros own material.
'I’m in Love With Myself' is a fun number that sounds like a bubble-gum song from the 60s with modern production. Great little song that it is, it's eclipsed by following number 'Last of the Comancheros.'
A modern Tex-Mex song (Pistoleros style, natch), the vocal deliveries in the verse sections remind of early Bowie, while dropping the memorable choruses to half-time makes them even more effective.
The inclusion of a trumpet part increases the Mexican vibe, with a touch of Spaghetti Western.
Another highlight.
'Dance Naked in the Rain' is three minutes of highly effective Pistoleros rock, complete with an excellent chorus and driving rhythm parts. That there are also echoes of The Cult here does the song no harm.
The lighter pop-rock approach of 'Hide Behind a Smile' makes for another winner, bolstered by a deceptively complex arrangement that maintains the interest.
'The Prayer,' which serves as both the closing number and bookend to 'Church Of The Pistoleros,' is another with a cleverly shifting arrangement, swivelling from full on power-punk to half-time rock.
It also features a tasteful if short guitar solo, that follows the song’s melody part.
Welcome to the Church Of The Pistoleros.
With a highly individualistic sound and approach, they may already be preaching to the choir, but there is always room for more in the congregation of "outcasts, the misunderstood, the shy, the quiet, and disenfranchised of society" that the band both welcome and embrace.
Amen to that.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Church Of The Pistoleros will be released on 2nd May, and distributed through Earache Records.
The album will be available digitally, on CD and in four Vinyl variants.
Pre-order (all formats) here: https://earache.com/collections/gypsy-pistoleros