Lumpen

Reviews

Lumpen Exterminación EP

This is the third record from Barcelona’s LUMPEN, a band that has been on my infallible punk radar since their inception and that I have therefore kept a watchful eye upon, not unlike a majestic albeit featherless eagle of good taste. This new EP Exterminación aptly reflects the progress they have made since the opening shot of Desesperación in 2020. While the intention has always been to build on the beefier side of the classic UK82 sound, I could always hear a raw Latino punk influence at the start, especially the Mexican school (which I rate highly) like MELI or ESPECIMEN. On this new EP, the sound is not as chaotic and noisy (I think the guitar player really found his footing here), but more precisely closer to the original UK influences. They have been, rightly, compared to CRIMINAL JUSTICE, and I am also heavily reminded of the DISTURBED or LAST RITES, but with a darker, anguished edge thanks to the lyrics in Spanish that do make you feel like you are at a dodgy gig in el DF in 1989. I really enjoy the mid-paced number “Apatia de la Raza Humana” with its Horror Epics tribal beats, and the heavy nod to WRETCHED on the closing number (with lyrics in Italian) obviously speaks to the inner nerd. Synchronically speaking, you could see LUMPEN in the same light as bands like PRIMER REGIMEN, SAVAGEHEADS, or the MASSACRED, but with time, they did manage to find their spot in what has become a busy subgenre. Make no mistakes, these punks are for real. Another solid release from Discos Enfermos.

Lumpen Corrupción 12”

I mentioned in my review for their debut EP that LUMPEN is the spirit of South American punk dissidence, and this opinion hasn’t changed. This is what punk should be! Ravenous yet catchy UK82-styled hardcore punk with the wrath of a thousand dissidents who are fed up with all the violence and corruption that they were born into and who took matters in to their own hands in order to change things. Corrupción is as amazing as their debut Desesperación, but it has a few surprises. Aside from the CHAOS UK-meets-CRIMINAL JUSTICE hybrid, they managed to do a post-punk-ish song called “Anti-Patria” which is pretty bleak, and I could hear a whole album of songs like this. To end the record, there is a kick-ass ULTRA-VIOLENT cover, but with Spanish lyrics that prove that bands don’t need to succumb to the pressure of singing in English to sound good or get included. LUMPEN and fellow countrymen PRIMER REGIMEN are for sure the best Latin punk bands at this moment! Renuncia a tu vida!

Lumpen Desesperación EP

LUMPEN is the spirit of the South American punk dissidence. With an UK82 backbone to their sound, product of much time spent listening to CHAOS UK or CRIMINAL JUSTICE, they create a similar approach to what fellow countrymen PRIMER REGIMEN do: a pure anthemic, unrestful Latin punk sound. Three Colombians and a Canadian relocated to Barcelona, with help from Lexton from UNA BESTIA INCONTROLABLE, LUMPEN managed to impress with this great debut, five tracks of pure “desesperación” of growing up in a violent corrupt country. Just look at the amazing cover by bass player Mateo Correal and you will get a taste of what is inside. “Tribus a la calle.”