DHK: Mierda de Hardcore 12"

DHK: Mierda de Hardcore 12” (Chijni Records) We’ve been carrying releases from Lima, Peru’s DHK (aka Destruye, Huye, Krea) for a decade and a half now, with the band racking up an impressive discography of albums, EPs, splits, and compilations. As you can probably tell from Mierda de Hardcore’s artwork, DHK has remained true to their mission of crafting Discharge-inspired noise, but unlike may Dis-bands who spend their entire lifespan refining and honing a single idea, Mierda de Hardcore displays DHK’s flexibility and their willingness and ability to find variety within the ostensibly narrow Discharge template. Not that there aren’t moments of pure Discharge worship; “Total Distroy,” for instance, is very similar to Disclose’s “Conquest,” and nails that formula as eloquently as any band who follows in Disclose’s footsteps. But there’s just a lot more to this album, which finds a surprising amount of variation without ever sounding like anything but d-beat raw punk. There are moments that remind me of Skitsystem’s big, barreling rhythms, others that slow things down and lean toward stench-core, and still others that sound more like straightforward hardcore than anything firmly in the Dis-camp. DHK isn’t afraid to throw in a mid-paced part or a rhythmic change-up either, which keeps the album sounding aggressive and punk, never settling into the kind of overly familiar or comfortable groove that can cause a d-beat record to lose its edge. While these distinctions might be lost on the unslaughtered ear, true heads will appreciate the space DHK has carved out in this crowded lane. Also, collectors should note Mierda de Hardcore is a numbered of edition of 300, most of which were sold on the band’s 2026 European tour.