So many punk albums start strong and lose their energy by the end. This self-titled debut does the opposite, intentionally starting slow and building up tension with an instrumental and then gaining momentum all the way through.
It seems the Santiago, Chile-based band released this demo last year and it’s made the rounds, now getting a USA cassette release via Iron Lung. Google tells me the name translates to something akin to “Gaslight,” and that should point you at its tone a little bit.
Luz de Gas is pissed off, raw and primal punk. It’s angry, but with contrarily positive energy on a more-or-less live-sounding recording with evenly mixed rumbling bass, pounding drums, and power chord guitar that pairs with the vocals for melodic direction. The word “demo” is apt in the recording quality, but not as a knock: it really captures the energy and heart as Muriel belts, screams and sometimes shrieks what I assume are politically tinged lyrics en español. The tone is simultaneously furious and bouncy, capturing the full cathartic experience by the time it hits the final tracks, “Demolición” and “Ni Una Garantía.”
With seven songs in under 15 minutes, it’s all too short. Or maybe it’s perfect because it ends on a high note and the energy keeps going endlessly when you hit “repeat.” Recommended for fans of timeless and angry punk that’s raw, a little bit sloppy, and melodic in just the right places.
