Reissue of the Week: SOBERANÁA PERSONAL Benditos Sean MuÁ±ecos Que Pegan LP
This impressive slice of underground music history was released on 200 tapes in Buenos Aires in 1988, never having enjoyed the vinyl format until now. I must say, definitely better late than never. Playing an early hardcore style that hasn’t forgotten its punk roots, SOBERANÁA PERSONAL is like the convergence of GRB and the BAGS. “En Verdad es una Gran Verdad,” on the other hand, is a haunting and slow punk-metal sermon with the reverb cranked up. The powerful and dynamic female vocals are really incredible on this record. At times the riffs recall DISCHARGE infused with enticing bass melodies such as in my favorite track so far, “Maskavidrio.” The influence of the irreverent snark of LA POLLA RECORDS is also well played and detectable through their cover of “Socios a la Fuerza” and their band name, which is derived from one of the legendary Spanish punk group’s verses. From the insert it’s evident that this band also ran in the same circles as their friends ATTAQUE 77. In fact, my second favorite song on the record, “Falsas Esperanzas,” is a cover of ATTAQUE 77’s parallel hardcore project DEFENSA Y JUSTICIA, which was already defunct at the time of recording this tape. The intelligent lyrics delve deep into the frustration, anger, and disenchantment that coming of age during the bloody Argentine military dictatorship would entail, paired with a searing indictment of machismo in “Supermacho.” Props to the Metadona label who also pressed the QLOAQA LETAL tape onto wax last year, saving both bands from the dustbin of punk history. So recommended!
(Metadona)
— Lena
