Barcelona

Similar to how Sorry State, Vinyl Rites, Lengua Armada, or Katorga Works do here in the US, Hackney, London-based record label La Vida Es Un Mus (subtitled Discos Punk) tend to work with bands that challenge the constraints of traditional hardcore and punk, which in turn sets them apart from the masses. The latest in a long line that includes Anasazi, Escroto De Rata, Hoax, my personal favorite, Glam (with whom Barcelona share members,) and most-recently LA’s Blazing Eye, comes this new 12” 45 rpm EP, Extremo Nihilismo En Barcelona. And yes, the quartet is indeed named after their residence in Barcelona, Spain.

All the lyrics are in Spanish, and sung by the former vocalist of Firmeza 10. Her nasally throat oozes malice that is impossible to shake; a true voice of the angry and alienated. The bass and drums have a peculiar rigidness to them; certainly in the D-beat vein, but not dumbed-down Discharge worship by any means. It pulls you cranium first into mean-mugged, head-nodding obedience. The guitars surge forth with power; every so often spinning out of control in a squealing, fitful manner that will have you involuntarily shaking your body as if you’re fighting off an exorcism. Extremo Nihilismo En Barcelona is a completely entrancing, unsettling 10 minutes. It serves as another reminder of why we all got into this punk shit in the first place, and why we’ll never abandon it.

8.0 / 10 — Nathan G. O'Brien