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Vatican City is known more for pope hats than garage rock, though where better to get your rock’n‘roll than from the most (arguably) influential city on the planet? Thus, The Slit Plasters and this three-song slab o’ vinyl.
Side A’s extravagantly titled, “Hildegard, 5* Vice Commando SHE-WOLF,” is kind of a cross between Kiss and the more modern garage sound a la Sweden’s Sahara Hotnights and The Shakedowns from DC. It’s also not the best song on the EP, being rife with ’70s rock cliches and some over-used samples.
Far better is side B’s frenetic opener, “Wayne Svitato Integro,” which oddly sounds like a spastic Oingo Boingo track, probably due to the horns. The anti-religion closer, “Holy Shit” boldly proclaims that “Faith is science fiction” to a bluesy punk riff that’s a little bit Stooges and a little bit MC5. Three cheers for side B!
If Euro-trash rock is on your radar, pick this one up and play side B over and over until your neighbors start blasting annoying techno music. It’ll be funny.
