La URSS

La URSS is a current melodic punk band from the Andalusian region of Spain.  The sound is infectious and melancholic, almost dark in a Wipers way, but with tenacious, scrappy vocals.  More modern bands like Neon Piss and Masshysteri aren't a bad reference, as well as first wave Los Angeles bands like the Plugz or the Dils.  This style of music is all about songwriting, and La URSS succeed!  "La Gran Caida" is my favorite song.  Download their records and pay what you want.

La URSS Bandcamp 

 

GRB

GRB was a hugely influential hardcore punk band from the formative era of the Barcelona punk scene.  The shared members with many other bands, including one of my favorites, Ultimo Resorte.  I think this record is their entire discography.  Circle pit to Spanish punk.

1984 - 1989

Accidente

Here's a band I fell in love with last year.  So much so, that I put out a cassette version of their self-titled first record.  They are called Accidente and are from Madrid, Spain.  The music is melodic, forceful and dynamic and the lyrics are impassioned, urgent and devoid of cliche.  They are also some of the sweetest people on the planet.  Their second record was just released on January 1st and is entitled Amistad Y Rebelion. The pop sensibilities are stronger and the songwriting is slightly more adventurous, yet the feeling remains the same.  It's a triumphant and impressive second record and I can't wait to see what these kids do next.  Bands like this are what punk is about to me...I love nerding out on long lost 80's hardcore records, but those are just artifacts, long dead and fossilized.  Punk is about the now, it is about the people around us and what we can create together.  Punk is about a better life for each other, or at least a life that is more our own. Bands like Accidente keep the flames of the present burning, shining light on the now and showing us that we still have so much work to do, that we are every bit as important as the "legends" that precede us.

You can download both albums for free on Accidente's bandcamp HERE

LPs are available in various distros around the world and if you want a cassette of the self titled album, they are only $4 and can be found at my label/distro's site HERE

Las Otras

I'm back!  Texas was fantastic and everyone was superb.   It was nourishing to see old friends and to make new Tejas and Espana friends.   It's still going to take me a couple days to get reorganized with this page, but for now, here is a band I'm in love with, Las Otras from Barcelona.  You can download their 7" and a couple songs from their upcoming 12" at their bandcamp page.  Las Otras are top tier Spanish punk, a shining star in an overly bright and clustered nightscape.  Enjoy!

LAS OTRAS

Godless

SIN DIOS was a seethingly political band, first and foremost. They formed the same summer I did, the summer of 1988, in Madrid, Spain (I was formed in Raleigh, NC).  Their anarchist ideologies were worn blatantly on their sleeves, and their songs were vessels for the feelings exploding out of their hearts and minds.  I believe this file is the first two records, Ruido Anticapitalista and Alerta Antifascista, from '91 and '93 respectively.  Few bands I've heard in my time have reached such politically intense heights as Sin Dios do...Crudos and Antischism are a couple others that come to mind....but you probably already love those bands as much as I do.  Sin Dios also let their influences flow through their songwriting...so many different points of reference could be made, but just listen and let them take you through their supercharged blend of punk, hardcore, ska, metal, folk and more (emphasis is definitely on the first 3).  This was an important band, and one of those special bands that backed up their hardcore anarchist messages with excellent hardcore music.

I Want To Go To Madrid