California's
Totimoshi decisively proved their commitment as rock & roll lifers (as if further proof were needed) when they soldiered on touring, writing, and eventually recording 2011's
Avenger (their sixth album in just over a decade) despite being dropped by yet another record label and consistently enduring the many other daily iniquities (abject poverty, starvation, etc.) facing independent musicians everywhere. Good for them -- and their fans -- since, from the opening title track's stuttering alterna-metal violence to the closing "Warning Divine"'s steady march of desperation (and with the help of
Antonio Aguilar's trademark wounded growl), this is a
Totimoshi record through and through. Yes, the
Melvins influences that the band had managed to disguise somewhat on recent efforts return to the fore on both those tracks, the instrumental "Calling All Curs" and especially "Mainline" -- but that's because the latter's thunderous drum cavalcade was performed by
Dale Crover himself (his endorsement of
Totimoshi is corroborated by additional guest appearances by
Mastodon's
Brent Hinds and
Neurosis'
Scott Kelly). And when that same song goes on to boast a comparatively pretty guitar solo, unexpected gang chorus, and incremental Hammond organ (later lending a ‘70s prog rock dimension to "Rose"), it's obvious that
Totimoshi aren't stagnating creatively. Other notable cuts include the college rock accents and soaring vocal harmonies of "The Fool," the Frankenstein blues metal of "Opus," and the wistful laments of both "Leaves" and "Snag." All in all, the only thing
Avenger is missing as compared to
Totimoshi's best efforts is an undeniable standout cut (though both "Mainline" and "Opus" come oh so close), but that will come again in due time and, as mentioned earlier, this band's in it for the long haul.