Totimoshi

MySpace (listen to "Viva Zapata," "In Virgo")
Official site
Hometown: Alameda
Next local show: None planned
Recent release: Ladrón, 2006

Ready for the heavy shit? Totimoshi can bear all manner of sludgy, stoney weight upon you. This despite having only three members and not being the slightest bit Japanese. Maybe the title of the new record ("thief" in Spanish) is a better indicator. Japanese, Latino, or Martian; Totimoshi is for real. The band's been hand-picked to open for the Melvins and Helmet, godfathers of modern heavy. With nine years and four albums to its name, it's poised to -- any day now -- become the next buzz band in the new hipster/indie metal scene led by groups like Mastodon, the Sword, and Isis. To be fair, Totimoshi are much closer stylistically to those indefatigable Melvins, who copped Black Sabbath's slow chug 20 years ago and never looked back. If there's any young band ready to introduce that sound to new ears, it's this one. (more >>)

Ladrón, which was just released Oct. 24 on Crucial Blast Records, begs to cranked. New drummer Luke Herbst pummels his kit when he plays, but is never overzealous. Lead guitarist Tony Aguilar (who also sings, in a voice that's sometimes a little more overtly metal than it needs to be) delivers the all-important sludge factor, metal riffage, and psychedelic solos (and even some acoustic in "These Meanings"). Bassist Meg Castellanos keeps the low end heavy and full and steps into the spotlight when called for. Despite having played together as Totimoshi since 1997, Aguilar and Castellanos keep their interplay raw and loose; a little more grooming and tightening would improve their sound and send more fans calling. In the meantime, it's enough to keep current fans' heads banging. As well we all know, that's the peak concern. Lose that and you got nothing.

TOTAL MOSHING:
-A few more heavy bands Totimoshi may call to mind: Clutch, Blue Cheer, High on Fire, Nirvana, Mudhoney.
-Ladrón was produced by Helmet's Page Hamilton.
-The group is currently on tour on the East Coast. On Nov. 2, for the annual CMJ Festival, they play the Knitting Factory in NYC with a revived Blue Cheer. In December, they head to the UK for a few dates.