Latest cassette by AMANITA TOXICA from Chile. The raw punk artwork may not quite do justice to what they sonically represent—the tape consists of an eclectic approach to raw grindcore with some modern hardcore parts to it. A filthy attack of distortion and heaviness reminiscent of the ’90s out-on-a-limb approach of ASSÜCK, RORSCHACH, or LOS CRUDOS.
Cavernous, blackened hardcore punk from Temuco, with deeply reverbed vocals and D-beat cadences in a dungeon-like atmosphere. Filled with a vicious energy, their lyrics verse on existentialism, punitivism and the state, and networks of vigilance and shit systems, ranting against inequity. Interesting space-like sounds and a live vibe across this cassette, recorded in 2021 but released in 2023. Junko, if not the most solid, is one of the finest exponents of DIY hardcore punk labels all over Chile, always magically releasing something new and exciting. Their whole catalogue is recommended; it’s filled with the essence of Chile and Temuco—hopefully sometime soon I’ll visit your realms to see your ever-thriving scene.
ATENTADO TERRÖRISTA (“Terrorist Attack”) are some energetic punks from Temuca, Chile. This is upbeat, pissed-off pogo with lyrics in Spanish, singing about various injustices, getting drunk, and skateboarding. For best results, play this tape in a boombox with a 40oz somewhere near it and get hyped.
Temuco won’t stop delivering good punk bands. On this occasion, we have a release from Junko Records presenting this anti-system power trio that transmits a classic version of hardcore punk with traces of street punk—it seems to be their 2020 EP and 2022 demo reissued here in a new recording. Favorite track: “Falsa Creencia,” with a mid-paced Satanic punk feel, and “Consecuencia” for a critical introspective view into their own punk scene. Filled with raw energy and very well-executed, holding the essence of Chilean punk’s youngster resistance. Very much recommended.
This cassette compiles all the material recorded by CÁLLATE, a great powerviolence band from the city of Temuco in Chile. It consists of three EPs and a demo, along with some unreleased tracks. Everything is dedicated to their guitarist Javier who passed away, and in solidarity with Gouki Tereucan and Carla. This is a band that takes classic references like SIEGE or MAN IS THE BASTARD, mixes it up with a bit of thrashcore, and creates little gems of absolute noise that temporarily liberate areas of your brain that you didn’t know needed to be liberated. And what’s more, they do it with a great sense of humor. It’s really a pity that the band can no longer continue, but they leave us a beautiful testimony that will last forever.
Really fun stuff here from this Chilean group. Upbeat, rocking, poppy, wild, space-y at times, kinda garage-y too. The two vocalists complement each other well via backing vocals and their individual songs. The one thing that kinda throws me is that on a couple tracks, when the song ends, they throw in an interlude that sounds like the start of a new song but it just ends. I think that could have been done differently, but it’s minimal so it’s not really a big deal. All in all, this is a really fun listen. Also, there’s puppies on the cover. Puppies will win me over every time.
Lo-fi recording of primitive hardcore. The quality supports the overall experience, since the simplified riffs and beats mix well with the blurred and blistering environment, as if your friend passed you a tape of their weekend session at the rehearsal room (which is always a nice gesture), and listening to this recording is not that distant from this feeling. Bands like DESAMPARO might have a better understanding of what making records supposed to mean than many of us—they write straight-up flawless hardcore tracks and set everything to sound even more amazing in this low-budget enviorment, because the sound is a significant part of the songs. If I listen closely and listen a lot, I can hear the guitar melodies hidden behind the desperate screams, but the real thing is the overall creation. They have deeper lyrics than the average bands in their style, reflecting everyday experiences rather than some blurry collective idea of shooting clichés. Yet I cannot say they are on constant repeat, as some of their songs are too long and monotone for me to be more excited than just considering them another great addition of the millions of cool hardcore bands from all over the world. But bands like this are the actual backbone of this subculture, who make it possible that there are great groups playing such fucked-up music all around the world.
Obscure hardcore spawned in the lands of Chile. DESAMPARO delivers a spastic and frantic brand of hardcore with metallic leanings, with an emphasis on a sinister atmosphere. Like a crustier version of the sound that DEVIL MASTER crafted, with warmer tones. The urgency in the vocals and relentless riffing create a parallel with the bands they used as references. Not for the faint of heart.
Definition of exotic—1: introduced from another country, 2: strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual. Based in NYC but with members from Mexico and Argentina, EXOTICA gives meaning to the word “exotica.” A ferocious mixture of UK82 à la DISORDER and South American punk like COLERA, creating a trampling, pogo-inducing sound topped with “angry at everything” vocals. Discografía Exotica is the compilation of all three Musique Exotique releases the band has done in the past through La Vida Es Un Mus. An unusual band that sounds fresh without changing much at all.
Directly from the La Florida neighborhood in Santiago, Chile, we hear a loud message of positivity and great inner force being cast by this band. A solid project giving the most intense experience with inspiring lyrics, backed by a merge between classic ’90s East Coast hardcore and intense fastcore with crossover nods, great powerful drums, and thrashy, high-pitched guitar. Solid sound and lyrical performance and flow, the vocal carrier of a high-energy, never-stop-fighting vital force. The enduring urge to mosh comes right away. Classic breakdowns ending in even faster string cadences are carriers of inner strength, pumping you up—you can tell they are all good friends and didn’t just click to do this band. Self-overcoming and personal growth is encouraged, as GATSU stands for guts, exuding determination, bravery, and self-knowledge. More than an interesting project and format, not seen as often as it should be nowadays. Suggested tracks: “El Mensaje” and “El Desafío.”
GRIPE from Chile plays faster-than-fast, super-short jingling garage punk songs, with anxious hardcore vocals. It’s so rapid, the real challenge would be to fuck up their demo despite using such bulletproof elements. In that sense it’s a harmless recording; what brings any spectacle is the fine blend of harsh vocals and barely distorted guitars, which might make you speculate what if one attribute were adjusted to the other. Songwriting uses smart tricks from amphetamine rockn’roll and disintegrated hardcore to color the otherwise urgent but predictable riffing. The recording captures GRIPE’s energy which is always challenging and a huge achievement to have it already on a demo. The whole thing is less than five minutes and it might make you remember them for longer than that.
GRIPE is back with another tape, playing garage-y, jangling, hyper-fast punk rock that tends to lean into hardcore, but with barely distorted guitars and bit of melodic spoken-yelling. Their sound is dense due to the constant shredding and up-tempo beat. The vocals are powerful and well-thought-out, and the additional backing pushes the overall sound into a rather gig-like atmosphere instead of a studio session. They cover a MIDDLE CLASS song with translated lyrics, and as a reference, it fits perfectly. It’s a fun release.
Great Chilean punk with piercing female vocals and a no-frills approach that sounds like it was recorded live in a spacious empty room. From the instrumental intro to each of the songs, the fairly simple, straightforward arrangements find their groove quickly and stick with it, jamming while the vocalist Muriel delivers high-pitched, high-intensity messages about empowerment, consent, sexual harassment, and fighting the ever-present threat of the male gaze. From the mysterious artwork to the urgent, personal lyrics (thanks to an online translator since I don’t know Spanish), this is a killer demo definitely worth checking out.
“Honest hardcore with nothing to prove,” as can be read on their Bandcamp page. This might be the best way to introduce this hardcore band straight from Santiago, Chile. The vibes scream ’80s hardcore with strong thrash influences, sitting on the fence of crossover. Mosh pit music for sure, filled with gang shouts, thrashy riffs, and relentless drumming. Hardcore for hardcore people.
Cool! TERCER MUNDO’s debut EP was one of the first records I got assigned to review that I was really stoked on getting a review copy to take home as well. Encased in a beautiful hand-screened envelope with ultra-gore ¡Alarma!-style graphics and an insert with decapitated heads on one side and a woman’s armless and legless torso inside with the words “Mexico 2012—60,000 human beings dead. Now go party and score some cocaine” gave one an idea of what to expect. Brutal, violent, raw hardcore from an especially violent and bloody period in Mexico’s history. This turmoil spawned an awesome spark of raw musical inspiration much as ’80s and early ’90s Medellin punk and metal did under Escobar’s reign. Bands like TERCER MUNDO, MUERTE, INSERVIBLES, ABORTICIDIO, and RATAS DEL VATICANO were on fire with art and anguish, with a sound akin to an updated MASSACRE 68 or SECTA SUICIDA SIGLO 20. Eager American punks like me lapped it up. Here we get that killer EP as well as the follow-up LP all on one cassette, beautifully packaged in the pictures I’ve seen. It’s limited to 40 copies so you’ll have to fight me to get one of your own, but if you miss out, member Dave Rata is making beautiful music in NYC in POBREZA MENTAL, XERO, and more. Really cool.
