Tiempos de Austeridad

Monterrey, Mexico’s Ratas del Vaticano remains one of the most furious and unique outfits in the history of Latin American punk and this album perfectly captures what made them so special. Armed with slight knowledge of their instruments, rackety production, and plenty of vitriol, the quartet slashes its way through 14 furious songs that show remarkable range. As exemplified by their cover of the Nerves’ “Are You Famous?,” Ratas’ secret weapon is a love for power pop and bubblegum pop that keeps their heart beating even in their most furious passages.