Angry raw punk from Brittany, France but sung in Spanish. God, I love bands that sing in Spanish! This EP has six disgusting tracks about social unrest the way it’s meant to be. You can feel it in your bones. Members of BAKOUNINE and USA LA TUA RABBIA.
Lille punks KRONSTADT return for their second LP, bringing with them a more expansive, melodic sound and ambition along with them. Like their compatriots LITOVSK and SYNDROME 81 I suppose it is ostensibly Oi!-adjacent, but there’s a not insignificant dose of post-punk sheen on this release; a lot of the rough edges have been knocked off which is where, unfortunately, I find a lot of the charm. It’s perfectly good enough, serviceable punk but just slightly too polished for yours truly.
We got us a ripper right here. No shortage of driving riffs, barking vocals and straight up nassssty bass tone. I would call it D-beat leaning hardcore, with plenty of moshy parts, but nothing too derivative. The band would definitely fit well on a bill with the UK’s ARMS RACE. Clear influence from GBH, VARUKERS, DISCHARGE, etc., and even reminded me a bit of BLOODKROW BUTCHER. There’s also a pretty rocking cover of “No Hay Futuro” by Spain’s RIP. The band is based out of Dublin, but comprised of immigrants from all over the world.
SPONT AR STAD is Breton for “state terror,” Breton being one of the six extant Celtic languages, used in Northwestern France. SPONT AR STAD plays anarcho-punk with Breton forming the lyrical content. Their recent self-titled 12″ draws heavy influence from ’80s peace and anarcho-punk. Raucous punk formed from atypical instrumentation and rhythmic experimentation, spontaneous shifts in timing resulting in multiple movements, and often blending with soundbites to create immediate social commentary. Authentic dissent in musical form.
Politically-charged punk that I’d lump in with my STRAWMAN and LEATHERFACE records if I was gonna put this on a playlist. Not that they sound alike at all, there’s just something about this that reminds me of those specific bands, especially the STRAWMAN vibe.
