LOS FASTIDIOS from Verona are like a well-oiled machine. Somehow they remind me of the good old VW Beetle... it just keeps going and going and going...
LOS FASTIDIOS are a band that has been living in a tour bus for many years. They play everywhere in Europe, produce a new album every two to three years, and have not let the very tough Corona times hold them back. During that time, they each released a song weekly, both individually and together. It felt good, and I always looked forward to new songs that, despite minimal instrumentation and recording via smartphones, were surprisingly good. Once they had enough songs, they compiled them into a CD titled “From Lockdown to the World.” You can read about the album here: https://www.ramtatta.de/s/reviews/f/details/id/8692/
After that, to celebrate their 30th band anniversary, they released their last new album “XXX - The number of the beat” in 2021, featuring fourteen songs.
The review on ramtatta.de can be read here at the following link: https://www.ramtatta.de/s/reviews/f/details/id/9026/
Two years have passed, and countless concerts later, something new is now coming into our living rooms with their astonishing 13th album.
To be honest, it’s a mini-album, but for a band that tours as much as the Italians do, it’s almost a miracle to manage to organize so many recordings in between.
LOS FASTIDIOS continue on “Revolt” exactly where they left off with “XXX - The number of the beat.” It doesn’t even matter that it’s just a mini-album, nor that three songs are cover versions and that two songs have already been released in other versions by LOS FASTIDIOS. Besides the first track, which comes across as spoken word in the very best Jamaican 60s style—so good that I thought it was an original from that era upon hearing the first words—there are only two truly new songs on the album. A bit few...BUT...
The ska version of “Antifa Hooligan” is so well done that it’s worth buying this mini-album just for that.
“I don’t wanna say to you goodbye” has a very sad text, but musically it’s so positive and danceable that you can’t help but sing along and dance. A new hit for the band!
On “Only You,” Elisa Dixon shows that she is not just the wife of singer Enrico, but also (by now) a great singer. She proves this on “Only You” by the band Yazoo. A wonderful song that brings a smile to your face and encourages you to dance.
LOS FASTIDIOS on this album demonstrate that they can play excellent ska and offbeat with a proper pinch of punk. The street punk of old days is not completely forgotten either, as can be heard on “Historia Triste” by Eskorbuto. Street punk plus Oi and with choruses. Simply perfect.
This record is not really meant to be a new album, but rather a thank you. A thank you to all the fans, promoters, and clubs that have stood by the band for years and have shown it even in the last three years, during a time that was so difficult and demanding for all of us.
LOS FASTIDIOS show that while the world keeps turning, it unfortunately doesn’t get any better.
LOS FASTIDIOS give courage.
LOS FASTIDIOS give strength.
To quote the band here, “Music can do everything you need.”
LOS FASTIDIOS are in absolutely top form on “Revolt” and in my eyes have even improved compared to their last two albums.
