The Mendozas – Up and At Them – Musician Spotlight
Canadian punk rockers The Mendozas dropped an energetic pop-punk gem rightfully titled “Up and at Them”. Brimming with angst this 12 track album is jam-packed with a dozen infectiously catchy songs. Up and At Them is a roadmap to the various punk subgenres and styles we have heard over the years similar to classic punk rock hallmark bands such as Social Distortion, Green Day, & The Offspring.
Formed in 2017 the self-described melodic, sarcastic punk trio the Mendozas never had their sights set on this band taking off; all members playing in other bands with a greater focus on those bands. 4 years later those other bands are now defunct and the Toronto area trio has 12 new tracks of premium punk music to share.
The Mendozas display their songwriting chops in various different diverse styles throughout this album even delving into hardcore punk with their track Lasso of Truth. Channeling their inner death style with this thrashy tuneThe Mendozas deliver an in-your-face aggressive number with this track.
The singer has an original & dynamic timbre somewhere between Billy Corgan & Matt Skiba that fits this band’s skate-punk sound perfectly. Murder may very well be the highlight of this release; “Against the Grain” the singer shouts as the song opens calling out and emulating Graffin & Bad Religion
Our personal favorite stand-out track is Not So Nice hailing outcalls to satanic sacrifice with a 13-inch knife this track bops along with ease and can easily be enjoyed by any punk rock fan. Using macabre imagery in their lyrical content this track is sure to raise some eyebrows.
Up & At Them was released on February 5th, 2021 and was recorded at Lincoln County Social Club by esteemed engineer John Dinsmore with tracks 1-6 being mixed by Dajaun Martineau who has previously done work with The Cancer Bats & Diemonds and tracks 7-12 being mixed by Dinsmore formally working with Pup & Cauldron.
Up & At Them was mastered by Peter Letros at Wreckhouse Mastering. The album art was done by artist Connor Johnstone (@realskecthbag). All songs were written and performed by The Mendozas with the exception of track 12 Kill Your Television which was written by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. The Mendozas are Jonny Mendoza on guitar & vocals, Michael Mendoza on bass & vocals, and Skitchy Mendoza on drums.
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