By: Ashley Parrish Otteman
Ever wonder what it might sound like if deathcore and grindcore had a secret love child? Me neither, but I didn’t know what I was missing until I dove into the latest works from Poolside at the Flamingo, seasoned veterans of the northern Colorado metal scene with nearly two decades under their belt. My journey covered their self-titled EP and the newest single, "Accabadora," which also serves as the title track for their upcoming EP, set to drop on May 22nd. The band—Scotty Bohnen on vocals, Danny Bohnen on guitar, Rudy Garcia on drums, and David French on bass—skillfully fuses the chaotic energy of grindcore with the intense blast beats and breakdowns characteristic of deathcore. So, anyone up for some deathgrind?
To the non-metalhead, Poolside at the Flamingo might just seem like a "wall of noise." But a deeper listen reveals a treasure trove of meticulously crafted guitar riffs, skilled drumming, and vocals that take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride—from zero to a hundred, back to zero, then sideways.
"Accabadora" kicks off with relentless speed, plunging into satisfying breakdowns before a hint of melody emerges at the end. The vocals, deep, gritty, and aggressive, meld into the fabric of the track, becoming an instrument in their own right. The accompanying video, a charming family affair featuring the band's kids, makes extreme metal seem as wholesome as a family reunion.
Diving into the "Self-Titled" EP, we're treated to seven tracks of pure, face-melting magic, clocking in at a concise 13 minutes and 14 seconds. The blast beats aren’t just fast—they're on Adderall. From the explosive start with “Ty’s Song” to the climactic finish of “Lay Down Your Life,” each track delivers a relentless barrage of rapid-fire drumming and killer guitar riffs. Your pulse will soar, and your head will spin, but just when you think you can't take any more, they dial it back with those hefty, chuggy breakdowns, giving you just enough breathing room before the next onslaught.
"White Lies" sneaks in some groove, tweaking the tempo for a rollercoaster of a listen. Then, tracks like "The Adventures of Davis and Scully" and "Steak Knife Stabbing" showcase some stellar guitar riffs and some more head-banging breakdowns. And let's not overlook the ironically titled "A Slow One for the Ladies," a 49-second blast of pure speed and adrenaline that crams an epic amount of energy into such a brief runtime. The combination of drumming, guitar leads, bass lines, and dynamic vocals brings a semblance of order to the chaos.
Let's face it, this level of heaviness isn't everyone's cup of black coffee. At first, it even had me questioning my own metalhead credentials. But give it a few listens, and the band's fiercely unique sound starts to grow on you. At first, you are just hit with the broad strokes, but the full picture starts to emerge after subsequent listens, reminding me why it's so crucial to give an album multiple listens cover to cover to get the full experience.
Poolside at the Flamingo unleashes such a brutally unapologetic sound that I can’t help but respect it. Their music propels listeners through an intense emotional whirlwind—ear-shattering, face-melting, yet exhilarating in its execution. It's a journey that's not for the faint of heart but promises a rewarding experience for those who dare. Check them out at their website, poolsideattheflamingo.com, hit up their Bandcamp, or slide into the DMs on Instagram @poolsideattheflamingo. Streaming on all platforms.
And always remember, it's never too heavy—it's just heavy enough.
See you in the circle pit!