Reviews

Cruzade

Distante Cada Acci​ó​n Cuenta EP

Excellent  Argentinian punk coming from a thriving scene I’ve been unaware of until the writing of this review. DISTANTE reminds me a lot of TOZCOS, but with a heavier straightedge influence, citing bands like MINOR THREAT and YOUTH OF TODAY as inspiration. The songs hit hard and fast with wall-to-wall riffs and breakneck drumming, but the stars of the show are the bass lines and vocals, both taking these songs to another level. I recommend flipping over to their Bandcamp and listening to “Circunstancias,” one of the best punk songs I’ve heard so far this year, which is saying a lot.

Malestat Que Arda Todo LP

MALESTAT wants to see everything burn! Que Arda Todo is the debut from this punk’n’roll band from Maresme, Spain. The riffs come at you like a freight train, very rock’n’roll-driven, almost as if channeling THIN LIZZY, and the vocals scream with pure disgust, making for a frantic but somehow catchy concoction, like a collision you can’t look away from. Twenty-four minutes of energetic racket and lifted middle fingers, but always very slick and fun. Reminds me of a more raw version of ANNIHILATION TIME. If you like your punk sprinkled with some rock’n’oll attitude, then MALESTAT is the band for you.

Ódiame Demo ’23 cassette

Hardcore from Spain. Fairly generic riffs played competently over fairly cringe-worthy lyrics and mosh calls. If that sounds appealing to you, by all means, have at it, but personally I don’t think your life would be missing anything if you skipped this one. Next!

Rainswept Demo ’25 cassette

RAINSWEPT’s name might sound poetic, but don’t let that fool you—this four-piece out of Rome, boasting members of STRENGTH APPROACH, FIRST BLOOD, and BLVD OF DEATH, is clearly chugging from the same bottle as 1990s NYHC bands like MADBALL and BIOHAZARD. Groove is the name of the game here, and there’s plenty to mosh to if metallic hardcore is your thing. But the first song, “137 Anthem,” is a seemingly pointless instrumental that eats up about a quarter of the whole release. Bold move, guys. This isn’t really up my alley, but if any of the bands mentioned above do it for you, check ’em out.