With a name as intriguing and bold as Mexican Coke, you’d expect an EP that’s just as fizzy, sharp, and refreshing as its namesake. The buzz surrounding this band has been building for a while, and I was eager to dive into what they had to offer. But after a few listens, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. While their raw, chaotic sound has undeniable energy, it doesn't quite translate into something as memorable as I had hoped.

This crust punk outfit brings all the expected elements to the table—frantic, buzzing riffs, pummeling drums, thick bass, and erratic, barked-out vocals. The urgency is there, and the band clearly thrives on a sense of disorder and aggression. The production leans into that aesthetic, with a deliberately lo-fi, unpolished recording style that emphasizes the rawness of their sound. The vocals are buried low in the mix, giving that classic underground punk feel, but at times, it just makes the songs blur together instead of standing out.

That’s where the issue lies: while Mexican Coke is undeniably loud and aggressive, it never quite breaks free from the usual crust punk formula. There are moments of grooviness where the bass locks in tightly with the drums, and the occasional drum fill or off-kilter riff grabs your attention—but those moments are too few and far between. The EP runs through its short runtime at full throttle, never overstaying its welcome, but it also doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression beyond its sheer intensity.

That being said, there’s nothing outright bad here. The performances are solid, the energy is there, and for fans of the genre, it might scratch that itch for raw, no-frills crust punk. Maybe this is the kind of release that grows on you with repeated listens, where the subtleties of their approach become more apparent over time. Or maybe this is simply a band whose strengths shine more in a sweaty, chaotic live setting than in a recorded format. Either way, Mexican Coke delivers a decent, albeit familiar, punk experience that may hit harder for those already deeply invested in the genre.