The Budos Band: VII [Album Review]

The Budos Band
VII
Diamond West Records [2025]

“Two decades in, The Budos Band still groove like the world’s grimiest secret weapon.”

Album Overview: The Budos Band first emerged from Staten Island in the early 2000s, drawing inspiration from dusty funk 45s, psych-rock oddities, and deep global grooves. Their sound—heavy, cinematic, and impossible to pin down—quickly became their signature. Over the past two decades, and several releases via Daptone, they’ve built a reputation for crafting instrumental tracks that feel like they were lifted from a long-lost cult film soundtrack. VII is their latest full-length—and their first since 2020’s Long in the Tooth. Coming hot off the heels of 2023’s Frontier’s Edge EP, this record finds them riding a spontaneous creative wave. Tracked in just a few days, VII brings a raw, unfiltered energy and marks their debut on their own Diamond West label. It’s the sound of a band reconnecting with instinct—tight, loose, and loaded with groove.

Musical Style: The Budos Band continue to thrive in the shadows between genres. VII is steeped in 70s crime-flick grit, fuzzed-out rock, and brassy soul, with splashes of global psych flavor. The horns and guitars take turns leading the charge, all while a thick rhythm section holds the line. These tracks are built to move—sweaty, swaggering, and full of mood. It’s music that hits hard but leaves room for mystery.

Evolution of Sound: Since the heavier turn of Burnt Offering, The Budos Band have been exploring murkier terrain. VII keeps that darker edge but reins it in a bit, offering a more focused, streamlined experience. At just 29 minutes across 11 tracks, it’s lean and deliberate. There’s no filler—just straight-to-the-vein grooves. New percussionist Rich Tarrana adds subtle depth, rounding out their sonic punch without tipping the balance.

Artists with Similar Fire: The Budos Band don’t have many true peers, but listeners chasing similar vibes might be drawn to the raw instrumentation of El Michels Affair, the smoky funk of Menahan Street Band, or the globetrotting psych of GOAT. There are moments here that channel the desert-toned intensity of Tinariwen or even early Sabbath riffs—filtered through a haze of brass and grit.

Pivotal Tracks: “Escape from Ptenoda City” comes out swinging—gritty, propulsive, and horn-heavy, like a heist scene set to vinyl. “Night Raid” dives into Turkish psych territory, locking into a hypnotic groove that never lets up. “Overlander” is all jagged fuzz and forward motion, nodding to Zambian rock with a riff that cuts through the haze. Each track brings a distinct flavor, but together, they form a cohesive, head-nodding journey.

Lyrical Strength: No lyrics? No problem. The Budos Band speak through tone and texture. Their horn lines, guitar leads, and rhythmic shifts do all the talking. These songs create mood, spark imagery, and tell stories without a single word—pulling you into a world of dusty streets, neon backdrops, and pulse-pounding moments. It’s instrumental music that feels narrative.

Final Groove: VII is a sharp, swaggering chapter in The Budos Band’s ongoing evolution—one that balances grit with groove, and instinct with intent. They’ve been carving out their lane since their 2005 debut, and nearly 20 years later, they’re still finding new ways to keep things raw, heavy, and hypnotic. It’s not a reinvention, but a reaffirmation: they know exactly who they are, and they’re still pushing that sound into new corners. If this record is any sign, the band’s next era promises to be just as bold, mysterious, and hard-hitting as the ones that came before.

THE BUDOS BAND REVIEW HISTORY
Frontier’s Edge (2023) / Long In The Tooth (2020) / V (2019)

THE BUDOS BAND LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Diamond West Records