By Vanessa Marie Carlson
The fourth album from Beasto Blanco energetically boasting the title Kinetica, does not fall short of delivering the fire this band is known for. I have actually had the eleven-song masterpiece on repeat since it was released just under a week ago, and am thrilled to report that they have not missed a beat since their second most recent release of We Are in 2019.
The opening track, “Run for Your Life” comes in with immediate hard-hitting beats and growls that melt and mesh with melodic vocals from the lead singer that we all know and love, Calico Cooper. The push, pull, and harmonies overlapping in the middle of the back and forths between hard and soft vocals really sets Beasto Blanco apart from any so-called “competition” in the current rock scene. They do their own thing and they do it incredibly well. By track six, “Slide,” which splits the album in half, Calico’s vocals noticeably shift to a mix of lower grunge-y tones and powerful belts, leaving most of the smoother and more traditional sounds to the first half of the album. She does both, though, and equally well. I mean, talk about RANGE! By closing track, “Fight,” it is clear that the band can carry just about anything while maintaining their balance of heavy instrumentation and wide radius of voices. This example set by Beasto Blanco is one that all should follow, but few will be able to execute as seamlessly as they do.
If you have read this far and found yourself questioning the familiarity of Calico Cooper’s last name, then let me clarify that it is indeed the same Cooper as in Alice Cooper, her grandfather, the rock legend. The band’s production is also done by Alice Cooper’s guitarist, Tommy Henriksen. Beasto Blanco also shares their bassist, Chuck Garric, with Alice Cooper, all of which explain the strong influence in Beasto Blanco’s musicality and performance theatrics.
Featuring Chuck Garric’s vocals and guitar playing, Chris Latham’s lead guitar and background vocals, Jan Legrow’s bass guitar and background vocals, and Tim Husung’s drums and background vocals, Beasto Blanco is poised to have a great year. Keep your eyes peeled for tour dates as they get ready to hit stages across Europe and the United States.
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