Golpe De Gracia

Reviews

Golpe De Gracia Heriotzari Irrin LP

GOLPE DE GRACIA is about as subtle as a boot to the cranium. Heriotzari Irrin is a natural follow-up to their 2021 album, Ustela. The formula hasn’t changed—Oi! backbone with snotty punk vocals—which is precisely what I hoped would be the case. No unnecessary departure, but these ten tracks do feel more refined, like they are building on a foundation. This album hits hard with big choruses, killer bass lines, guitar that cuts like a honed razor…and no fluff or filler. Fans of IRMO and BETON ARME should be gobbling this down.

Golpe De Gracia Ustela LP

Absolute beast of a debut LP from this Spanish band that sings comfortably in Spanish and Basque. This band arrives with a fully-formed sound reminiscent of Oi! and Basque radical rock, but that also reflects ’80s influences like NEGATIVE APPROACH. This is an aesthetic exercise around hatred. Hatred directed towards a decadent society, and in particular, towards the rotten cities of Europe, sold out to capital. An exercise of hatred that vindicates the angry dignity and the vital vehemence of knowing oneself in constant opposition to everything, but which also finds transcendence in the haughtiness of resistance, in the opportunities generated by the city streets at night.

Golpe De Gracia Cementerio Interior EP

Seems to be a skins ’n’ punks affair, but the snotty lead vocal carries it more toward the punk side, which works better for me. The two definitive Oi! clues are the gang choruses and a couple skinhead guys pictured on the lyric sheet. Overall, more scrappy vibes than tough. Not much else to report about this Madrid band outside of a few likeable guitar and vocal hooks. Could just have easily emerged out of L.A. from Silenzio Statico or Verdugo Discos.