Iglesia Atómica - Low Cost & High Grasa

 

 

Iglesia Atomica - Low Cost & High Grasa
Acero Latino Records – 2026 
Rock, Psych, Jam
Rated: 

I’d like to speak on behalf of an album that was released earlier this year, so let’s take a time warp way back to May. You may very well remember it, or then again, it may have flown completely under your radar. If you’re in the second category here, that’s the whole point of bringing up Low Cost & High Grasa all these months later. Iglesia Atómica hail from Puerto Rico and specialize in a wonderful blend of heavy psych, retro rock, and stoner rock. Extended instrumental jam sessions with an improvisational spirit that don’t necessarily follow a predetermined path form the backbone of all their releases.

Low Cost & High Grasa explodes like a powder keg with the opening title track, as the hard-hitting drums blast away, setting the stage for a barrage of fuzz-drenched riffs and spiraling lead guitar licks. Short of midway through the seven-minute track we’re decelerated and introduced to a funky reggae-inspired sequence that offers a glimpse into the diversity of Iglesia Atómica’s musical direction. The album itself is pretty diverse, we have ‘Monolito’, that taps into the stoner-doom realm with a creeping tempo and repetitive doomy riff that lumbers along a darkened path. ‘Cambrian Explosion’, a noise-driven track that builds from single-celled origins into a chaotic eruption of sound, before evolving into a more defined structure. The extra fuzzy, 70’s inspired ‘Dopper’, that utilizes swaggering lead guitar, bass-wah, and cowbell to achieve a seriously heavy groove. ‘Mandrake’ takes us down a rabbit hole of bluesy heavy psych, gradually building into a massive sonic experience, one you won’t want to crawl out of. All roads so far have led us to the fittingly titled ‘The Magnificent Beast’. What a super fun and funky tune! The use of keys, especially at the beginning, truly elevate this classic rock influenced track. Infused with tons of rhythmic personality and topped off with acid rock guitar, it’s a highly infectious song with a loose, swinging groove that’s impossible to resist.

If you pick up the digital version on Bandcamp there’s also an extra twelve-minute track titled ’20,000’. We’ll let the reader dive into that one, just know it makes for a great alternative ending to the already amazing Low Cost & High Grasa. Iglesia Atómica have had a long journey since 1990, one full of exciting releases. I’d imagine as frequent as they’re making music, it’s possible they’re already in the process of the next chapter. Until then, we’ll continue to savor this latest offering. 

(Written by Jon McGough) 

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