I’m easy when it comes to stoner rock. Give me a power trio, some fuzzed out low end in sync with the guitars (preferably also fuzzed to the nines), drums that don’t sound like programmed blips, and melodies that catch and sparkle in the desert sun. Washington, D.C.’s Borracho have been doing just that for over 15 years, and on sixth full length Ouroborus the trio bring their swaggering hard rock trip to comment on the ills of the nation. Sometimes all you need is a gnarly riff and a snarled chorus to make the world feel a little better, you know?

The pairing of Borracho and Ripple Music, long a sturdy and dependable label for this kind of heavy rock seems like a no brainer, and in fact the pair have worked together in the past, putting out a killer split with Geezer as well as a collection of non-album tracks. They also have a long history with Kozmik Artifactz, no stranger to the genre themselves, and albums like 2023’s Blurring the Lines of Reality – my introduction to the band – show a group with a clear sense of vision: rock will prevail over all. The three part suite “Architects of Chaos” was all I needed to be psyched (pun only slightly intended, as the psyche elements are muted in favor of chunky rock) to hear what Borracho would cook up on Ouroborus.

Gone may be the massive 10- and 11-minute stoner opuses of the past, as mentioned a lot of the psych elements are muted in favor of a more adrenalized straight forward heavy rock. Opener “Vegas Baby” might imply some slippery desert rock with little thematic weight behind it, but the groove is deceptive. The doppler feedback that kicks off the seven and a half minutes of “Succubus” is pure darkness, creeping up on you like a snake. Steve, who handles guitars, synths, and vocals makes the most of the trio format by creating these layers of sound that add a haze of bile and rage, giving the blues-bending riff on “Lord of Suffering” that extra kick of menace.

Laying down some seriously solid rhythm is bassist Tim and drummer Mario, and they again exemplify what it is I love about the trio format – there is no better configuration for hearing how locked in musicians can be. And Tim and Mario are LOCKED; whether they’re laying down a thick, syrupy foundation for the solo on “Machine is the Master” or popping the driving guitar on “Freakshow” with some electrifying accents, they’re a formidable pair, and across all seven rockers ensure the low end is up front and in your face.

Am I being too easy on Boraccho? They’re certainly not re-inventing the genre, but more than any other stoner metal doesn’t call for re-invention. It calls for serious discipline to the almighty riff. To germanium circuits and stacked fuzz; to a kick drum that can lift the gravel off an unpaved road and a bass frequency that loosens your bowels. Sure, I’m an easy mark for this kind of music, but for my money Ouroborus knows its business and executes it flawlessly.

— Chris

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Ouroborus will be available August 8 on Ripple Music. For more information on Borracho, check out their official website and Facebook pages.