Album review: EL COLOSSO – Forgotten Ancestors

Bandcamp [Release date 17.12.20]

This independent release containing 7 tracks is the follow up to El Colosso’s debut Album, ‘Pathways’, which was released in 2017.

El Colosso are a Melbourne based heavy rock band, comprising Benny James Pertzel (Dirty York / King Wolf), Craig Fryers (Mushroom Giant / Dive Into Ruin), Peter ‘Red Dog’ Hayden (The Hybernators / Free To Run) and Matt ‘Koops’ Cooper (Bring On The Junta). If you like your rock with a really tight sound and punchy delivery of meaningful lyrics, then this is for you.

Forgotten Ancestors is not a concept album, the lyrics and music were all written pre-pandemic, with the benefit of hindsight so much of the content seems near prophetic.

There are common themes throughout: warnings, anger, frustration, rebellion – all relating to the way we treat each other, and the way that those in power seek to treat us. The album, though, does not dwell on the sombre or outright impotent rage – there is also humour, love and hope.

The band have this to say “Forgotten Ancestors is a work we are all immensely proud of. We have been able to approach this project with the truest form of the DIY philosophy.

With the tracking masterfully recorded by Richard Stolz at Woodstock Studios in Melbourne – just before Australia’s lockdown episodes – with vocals and other overdubs being recorded at home studios, being mixed by Alex Hayes and the rest of the band via online, real-time sessions, this record is very much an honest and bold example of what EL COLOSSO can achieve.”

Another quality release from a year that presented significant challenges for all bands, I really see this is as encouraging, there’s real quality original rock music coming out, whether as a direct result or not, it makes me optimistic for the future and the return of live music – I’ll be in the queue to see this band if they head over here, without a doubt.

Tracks of choice for me ‘As One’ is an absolute stand out and ‘Down to the Stars’ which is the recent single. ***

Review by Karen Clayton

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)