I’m not form Cork. There that’s out of the way. I only mention that because there have been a few Cork bands over the years that I just haven’t got. The Sultans of Ping are one. Yea, everyone likes the Where Me Jumper ditty, but other than that they sound like any old crappy teenager’s punk band. Fred are another one, how can you like a band called Fred? If you’re going to be in a band with a terrible name you have to be good, Fred aren’t.

Enough negativity, it’s time to talk about a new band that many of you will not have heard of yet. Los Langeros. I think that’s Spanish for “the willys”, langer means willy in Corkspeak doesn’t it, so putting a “Los” in front of it makes it Spanish willys.

Anyway Los Langeros play a distinct type of punk music that’s becoming more and more popular down the country, as they say Cow-Punk. But the thing is Los Langeros are the pioneers behind a new branch of punk, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the genre of Goat-Punk.

Firstly, what is Cow-Punk? It’s a country/folk and/or blues influenced style of punk music, you’ve probably heard a few bands playing that style of music before. Bands such as Drive-By Truckers, The Gaslight Anthem & Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Secondly what is Goat-Punk? Well it’s, quite obviously, another sub-genre of punk. But as Los Langeros are the first band we can safely say that it’s a genre that mixes punk, heavy rock, country, folk instruments, a hint of a Spanish feel to it and a generous dollop of the craic.

There’s one band that cannot help but come to mind while listening to the record, Giveamanakick. Los Langeros have the same intensity and urgency about them. But delivered in a completely different way. Instead of screamed guitars and pounding drums we get a more subtle approach.

The Spanish influenced tunes are great and sound really fresh, unlike with American Ska-Punk bands it doesn’t sound like a gimmick and it’s littered throughout the album so you don’t become tired of the sound.

I do get the feeling though that the album isn’t half as good as what they must be like live and in the flesh, a quick scan of some Cork forums proved my fears that they would be a real force live. Not only will they have the place moshing and heaving like crazy but they’re meant to put on quite the show for the punters too.

The good news is that Los Langeros will be playing at this years Electric Picnic, it’s one date of an Irish tour that’s kicking off on in Cork on August 28th, Check here for more dates. The dates will be a double-headline affair with Whipping Boy‘s Fearghal McKee new band, well, one of his new bands, Fearghal McKee & the Shitty Shit Shits.

Drop-d‘s old favourite Jinx Lennon makes an appearance on final track Night of the Living Langers in what could well be the standout song of the record. Other highlights include the uptempo Hairy Goat Guy, a song that’s guaranteed to get a mosh pit pumping. Also check out the wonderfully weird Mongolian Slapdance and the heavy-metalesque banjo number Banjoed and the summer inducing Tu Casa Mi Casa, it’s in Spanish, sure how could you not love a Cork Goat-Punk band singing half a song in Spanish?

This album probably isn’t for everyone but if it’s not for you then you’re probably the dweeb that prefers to go to gigs and stare blankly at a band, afraid to dance in case somebody would think you’re not cool, well you’re already not cool, you never will be so stop trying. Instead listen to some Goat-Punk and dance while you enjoy the madness.

Drop-d Rating: 7.5/10

Los Langeros

Los Langeros Bandcamp