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All Music Guide:
The vibrant and defiant thrash/hardcore unit Wrangler Brutes formed in 2001 in Los Angeles, CA around scene veterans Sam McPheeters (ex-vocalist of Born Against and Men's Recovery Project), guitarist Andy Coronado (Skull Control, Monorchid), drummer Brooks Headley (Born Against, Universal Order of Armageddon), and bassist Cundo Si Murad (Nazti Skins). The band released an eponymous, cassette-only demo on their own before being tapped by Kill Rock Stars for their proper debut, which they then recorded with Steve Albini. Released in October 2004, Zulu was a striking album that referenced vintage thrash and hardcore while remaining relentlessly in the present.
Wikipedia:
The Wrangler Brutes were an American hardcore punk band formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California.
History
Wrangler Brutes were formed around vocalist Sam McPheeters (ex-Born Against, Men's Recovery Project), drummer Brooks Headley (ex-Born Against, Universal Order of Armageddon, [Young] Pioneers), guitarist Andy Coronado (of Skull Control, Monorchid, Nazti Skinz, Glass Candy) and bassist Cundo Si Murad (of Nazti Skinz). The band sold over 1,000 copies of their self-released, self-titled cassette in 9 months; this release was followed by a 7" record and a full-length LP, Zulu, recorded in May 2004 with Steve Albini. The album featured Chris Thomson (of Monorchid and Circus Lupus fame), as well as Circle Jerks' Keith Morris on vocals. The band recorded their October 8, 2004 show at Monkey Mania in Denver, CO with Permanent Record Studios. The concept was to release a "bootlegged" live version of their Zulu album, but due to the bands split the live CD was never released. In December 2004, at the end of a lengthy Japanese tour, McPheeters bowed out and was replaced for the band's last US show by Dean Spunt of the bands Wives and No Age.
The band was known for somewhat confrontational, hectic live performances which were heralded by their biggest fans as a return to the artsy yet entertaining briskness of early Los Angeles hardcore punk. McPheeters' sense of humor dominated their presence as a live act; his patter, alternately caustic and cryptic, was a major aspect of these shows. On their first tour, their set ended with noted history buff McPheeters donning a wig and reciting a dramatic monologue taken from the closing scene of act 1 of Shakespeare's Henry V.
McPheeters also penned an over-the-top dismissal of Zulu for the OC Weekly under the name "Walter Burgerns," an anagram of the bandname.
