Debut album from the Vox instrument worshippers (December 2025)
Wyld Gooms | LP | (Outro) 2025 | Well folks, it’s finally here . . . the debut album from the magnificent garage punk Knights of L.A., a.k.a. Wyld Gooms. After two earlier singles (reviewed on my blog) I was worried that they’d disband before unleashing their long-player but thankfully, despite a couple of line-up changes, they managed to keep going and hung-out recently at Electric Eel Studios and recorded enough material for an LP.
The opener, “Wyld Goom” is a short, frantic raver and a perfect group theme tune. Containing all of the elements we love to hear . . . fuzz guitars, screams, primal intensity, authentic organ bursts . . . all amalgamate to create a catchy garage punk anthem. If the Monkees can have a theme tune then so can the Wyld Gooms!
“No No No” is a terrific R&B fuzz tormentor, aided by harried screams and exciting guitar breaks.
Modern day garage bands need a ‘Back From The Grave’ style cave-teen wrecker and “Stroke Of Midnight” is their acknowledgment to the sixties pioneers.
The tracklist has been thoughtfully prepared and next up is “Dream Girl,” a slowish-ballad number with a ? and the Mysterians feel. The number is dominated by groovy organ and holds the interest with a fast-paced mid-song rave-up.
Closing Side One is “Can’t Be Your Man,” a quintessential garage rocker with an insidious beat. It’s a very classy piece of rock and roll and would have made a fine single.
Wyld Gooms | LP | (Outro) 2025
The mayhem continues on Side Two with opener “Thinkin’ Bout You,” released as a single in April 2023. It’s a joyous noise of controlled fuzz punk energy and potent verve.
There’s skull rampaging bass, deranged drums, wyld compact organ notes, screaming guitars and crypt kickin’ screaming humans. What’s not to like? They’ve even got the good grace to include a mid song Count Five rave-up.
Next up is“Hubba Bubba,” an old-school garage punk raver. It’s a full-on action packed destroyer with a flurry of detonating fuzz bombs exploding from your Hi-Fi speakers. Raw, powerful, vengeful . . . in that order.
“Don’t Come Cryin’” is another ? and the Mysterians fuzz swinger. Plenty of attitude and swagger leading into the second previously released number and first single, “You Did Me Wrong,” from January 2022.
“You Did Me Wrong” is a high-speed, wild garage punk raver with fuzz, screams, paint-peeling compact organ and pissed-off words. In other words E-S-S-E-N-T-I-A-L.
The set closes with “Love Spell,” a slowish fuzz & reverbed triumph and with that the Wyld Gooms crawl back to their Bat Cave for a bowl of raw meat and beer.
Line-up on the record:
Magoo Benavides (Vox guitar)
Mickey Briks (Vox guitar)
Christopher Mayorga (drums)
Christopher Medina (Vox bass)
Joel Giron (organ)
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