HOWDYTOONS feat. Protest the Hero, Marco Minnemann - Quetzalcoatlus (Track Review)

Written by: The Administrator

Another killer single from Howdytoons dropped last Friday, and as I surf through their impressive catalog, I wonder whomst among us didn't have a dinosaur era. Did any of us actually escape a period wherein dinosaurs--aesthetically, conceptually, historically--were simply the coolest thing imaginable? For me, this phase peaked in elementary school, and for a solid 4-5 years, I was an expert. I would have been the first to um akshully my current self, explaining that today's titular quetzalcoatlus was not, in fact, a dinosaur, but rather a pterosaur. Big difference. Years later, I'm admittedly less knowledgeable about dinosaurs and their ilk, but that's not to say I won't get hyped when the occasion permits.

Which leads us to today's track in question. "Quetzalcoatlus" is the latest single from a band perhaps most well known for their family-friendly music videos on YouTube. Covering evergreen topics like dinosaurs and mythological creatures, and with over a millions subscribers, they are not exactly a small fish in the the large pool of educational media. Certainly a little different than the typical Sleeping Village fare, but I have a perennial appreciation for the sheer quality of their craft. And this latest track is one of their strongest to date, in my opinion. Featuring vocals by Rody Walker of Protest the Hero, as well as drums from Marco Minnemann, there's a lot of talent on display. 

Discard your misconceptions about about so-called kid's music and take a moment to appreciate how intensely riffy and hard-rockin' "Quetzalcoatlus" actually is. Instrumentally, this thing is notably meaty coming from a band with cartoony cover artwork. The track genuinely rocks--there's an engaging momentum and a refrain that is incredibly hooky. The vocals lend a certain pedigree, particularly as they approach harsh territory at the tail end, but the kinetic songwriting itself sucks you in. And the lyrics are just fun. 

"Quetzalcoatlus" is intrinsically a song that kids and families can enjoy--indeed, Howdytoons have written a high-quality banger that I look forward to sharing with my nephew next time he breaks out the plastic dinos. However, "Quetzalcoatlus" is also an unironically engaging listen for me. An adult. Unlike so many others in this particular made-for-kids lane, Howdytoons songs don't feel dumbed down. As such, I can and will listen to a track like "Quetzalcoatlus" for the sheer joy of it. They've carved out quite a niche for themselves. No small feat. 
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Check out "Quetzalcoatlus" below!

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