Los Ex-Tridentes: Los Ex-Tridentes [Album Review]

Los Ex-Tridentes
Los Ex-Tridentes
Vermelho Discos/Reverb Brasil/Otitis Media Records [2025]

“Los Ex-Tridentes drop a surf debut that’s lean, punchy, and proudly born on Brazilian shores.”

Album Overview: Los Ex-Tridentes crashed onto the scene in March 2024 in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, when bassist Marcelo Galvan, drummer Lucas Ricardo, and guitarist Duda Victor decided to dust off some shelved songs. What started as a casual idea to record a few tracks snowballed into brand-new compositions and, eventually, a full debut album. Each member brought serious surf chops from other projects—Lucas also plays with The Cherry Bomb and Búfalos D’água while co-running Vermelho Discos, Marcelo pulls double duty in Búfalos D’água and designed the record’s striking artwork, and Duda has a past with Greek surf act Dirty Fuse and is currently shredding in Paraná’s own Terremotor. Recorded between August 2024 and January 2025 at Toque Grave Studio with producer Marco Aurélio Silva, Los Ex-Tridentes is all-original, all-instrumental, and carries a cinematic edge. These songs pack extra flavor—sometimes more rocked-out and ragged (“Joey Is A Punk Surfer,” “Incógnito”), sometimes with cheeky effects that fit the title (“Space Scape”), and sometimes with whip-quick transitions (“Farewell”) that remind you nothing here is routine surf.

Musical Style: Rooted in classic surf rock structure, the trio injects distinctly Brazilian flair into their sound. The guitar, bass, and drums lock into a kinetic interplay, shifting from steady propulsion to sudden bursts. Guitars ring with long sustain and echoing textures, while rhythms keep the momentum tight and urgent. Every track feels purposeful—no filler, just clean, dynamic arrangements that keep the spotlight on their instrumental chemistry.

Evolution of Sound: While Los Ex-Tridentes marks their debut, it plays like the work of seasoned pros—which, of course, it is. The band draws on both Brazilian and global surf traditions, landing somewhere between tradition and boundary-pushing. The mix is crisp and intentional, balancing the sweaty energy of a live set with the precision of studio polish.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into the widescreen surf of The Bambi Molesters or the raw swagger of Los Straitjackets (yes, the wrestling masks also apply here), this will hit the sweet spot. Brazil’s own Terremotor, The Mullet Monsters Mafia, and Surf Aliens operate in a similar lane—fusing regional rhythms with reverb-drenched guitars—making Los Ex-Tridentes part of a vibrant national surf rock wave.

Pivotal Tracks: The album flows as one cohesive ride, but a few moments demand the spotlight. Opener “Honey Island” lays down a mid-tempo groove, setting the table for the sharper punches ahead. “No Fundo do Igapó Tem Tubarões” (“At the Bottom of the Igapó There Are Sharks”) bites hard, its guitar work churning like dangerous currents. “Joey Is A Punk Surfer” might be the record’s peak—a modern surf masterclass with echo-soaked riffs that rise and fall over tight, driving drums. Midway through, “Incógnito” brings the heat, kicking into overdrive as the whole band locks in at full throttle—matched later by the tense, chord-heavy “The Evil Father.” “Farewell” pulls the ripcord with a slow-burning build, then coasts into a reflective fade that lingers after the final note.

Final Groove: Los Ex-Tridentes is a debut that feels like anything but—a lean, tight set that flexes muscle without losing its melodic edge. The band blends surf tradition with Brazilian character in a way that’s both cinematic and rocking high-energy, delivering plenty of replay value. It’s a record that earns its place in the modern surf canon and hints that Los Ex-Tridentes have plenty of surf runway left!

LOS EX-TRIDENTES LINKS
Bandcamp | Instagram | Vermelho Discos Records | Reverb Brasil Records | Otitis Media Records