Abstract: A concrete retaining wall block includes insets along the sides and in the rear and a locator protrusion on one of the top or bottom surfaces. The block has a depth that is less than the height and less than one-half of the width of the front surface. A volume is defined behind the front surface of the block. The volume is shaped to receive pourable concrete when a plurality of the blocks are stacked to form a wall in a manner that locks the blocks to concrete behind the blocks when the concrete cures. In preferred embodiments, the concrete is no-fines concrete. Retaining walls may be constructed from these blocks.