GUERILLA TOSS: SMACK THAT BRICK (now available)

GENRE | FREAK FUNK
LABEL | NNA Tapes

Preconceived notions and expectations are best left behind before diving into a release from Allston experimental crew Guerilla Toss; you can always come back to them later to see how badly wrong you were. On their new four-track set, they don’t ease up on the pedal while careening through walls of funk, punk and prog-rock, but they seem to have a steadier hand on the wheel. Or at least, some do: Peter Negroponte’s drumming and Simon Hanes’ bass groove anchor “Etqueeny” and free Kassie Carlson to get weird with her banshee-bop vocals, the end result of which is hopefully a mosh pit wherever it’s played. “Billy Blood Idol” jabs quicker, with Carlson shouting her lyrics Sleigh Bells-style over a noisier backdrop of guitars and synths. The title track’s languorous Beastie Boys funk shows the dangers of shading too close to convention, but that’s never been a problem for them before.