Girl In a Coma - Exits & All the Rest

San Antonio’s Girl In A Coma have left a permanent tattoo on the hearts of thousands with their piercing songs and nuclear performances. They’ve blazed a singular trail since Nina Diaz joined the band at age 13 and have found champions and comrades along the way including Joan Jett who signed them, Morrissey, Sia, Tegan and Sara, The Pogues and Amanda Palmer who have hand selected them for tours. In addition, Robert Rodriguez asked them to compose one of the key songs for his film Machete last year. All the while, they have been building one of the most impassioned and diverse fan bases in music. Girl in a Coma are that rare feral band, unaffected by trends, that has managed to stay wild and thrill us at every turn. Exits & All the Rest, their 4th album out November 1 on Blackheart Records, is the most heart-stopping turn yet.

From sharing stages with their heroes to experiencing Arizona’s controversial laws firsthand, the album was born in an especially intense period for the band. “Hope” is a pogo ready punk assault that speaks to the Arizona immigration dispute while daring you to stay still. Album opener “Adjust” is a tale of persecution and a sonic mindfield. Nina Diaz’s voice turns from a lament to a growl in a split second while the thundering combination of Phanie Diaz’s drums and Jennifer Alva’s bass rattle your ribcage. “One Eyed Fool” is a fearless and bare declaration of the universal need to be loved. “Cemetery Baby” underscores the bands ability to seduce you with melody no matter how tragic the message. “Smart” showcases GIAC’s own special recipe for a melodic pop song. The stomping rhythm of future GIAC anthem “Control” lays a foundation for Nina’s voice to build empires of heartbreak on. The stamp San Antonio’s music scene has left on the band is all over the album and it’s stabs of punk, tejano, rockabilly, classic rock and roll, rancheras, indie rock and ballads all contributing to a sound that can only be described as Girl in a Coma.