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Ayucaba is a Barcelona-based hard-core punk band made up of members from different corners of Abya Yala, who are part of the Otro Futuro collective.
Otro Futuro propone... is a phrase that has headlined some of the posters for self-suggested punk concerts in Barcelona for several years now. This is perhaps one of the band's most interesting elements: their active participation as an amalgamation of punk counterculture from different traditions in an undiscovered context, where different ways of making, creating, repairing, and destroying intertwine and collide, bringing with them movement and emotion.
After 50 years of punk history, 20 since Otan, Cisma, Firmeza 10 and other significant groups forged the sound and ethic of Radical Hard Core, more than 15 since Destino Final released their incomparable album Atrapados, which we could suggest forged the punk sound that saturates our globalized times, it is difficult for us to think of new ways to scream, to resist, to not live on our knees in complicity with the system we abhor and that has turned us into passive consumers of reality. In the face of so much hopelessness and cynicism, it is worth trying to combat the sterility of sound and ideas, right?
This new album from Ayucaba presents several surprises: a change of singer, songs with complex but never boring structures, an explosive voice that breaks through the matrix of current musical formulas without effects that embellish the voice and hide the lyrics. Arrangements and solos reminiscent of speed metal, or even better, the legacy of English Dogs and Broken Bones, which some mid-80s bands took as the central axis of their sound. To name a few: Stigmathe from Italy on their eclectic EPs, III.Kategorija from Ljubljana on their track Agressor, Vellocet from Berlin, and more frequent references to the Japanese sound such as Ghoul, The Clay, The Execute, and Poison, among others. This collection of songs demonstrates a deep dedication and genuine interest in contributing a unique vision to the current homogenization of the international sound. Far from the traditional Latin American punk characterized by its technical rawness, stripped-down production, and straightforward lyrics, this album manages to maintain its caustic intensity, combined with elements difficult for any punk performer to master. As you listen to the songs over and over again, new elements emerge, and the choruses sink into your subconscious little by little, lifting you from your seats until you find yourself moshing solos like crazy!
Dear reader, if you've made it this far, perhaps your attention will allow you to listen to this great album without skipping, scrolling, or zapping and enjoy a good dose of anarchic rock n roll!!!
Our take: Spain’s Metadona Records brings us the debut vinyl from this band based in Barcelona, but featuring expatriates from several locales. First of all, I should say that if you are interested in this record, you should definitely consult the (very) deep dive Jeff did in his staff pick last week; he goes into a lot of detail about every aspect of Operación Masacre, and it’s a great read. Here’s my short version, though. Ayucaba plays a style of metal-informed hardcore that reminds me of records like the Exploited’s Death Before Dishonour, Broken Bones’ Bonecrusher, and English Dogs’ Forward into Battle. Like those records, Operación Masacre takes the skeleton of driving, UK82-style punk and infuses it with metal’s more complex riffing and arrangements, adding a gratifying layer of complexity without losing the energy or directness. Their biggest strength, in my book, is their vocalist, who has one of the most distinctive and interesting voices in punk. It’s this kind of hoarse demon rasp, sandpaper abrasive and mean as hell, but still carrying a tune and articulating the lyrics clearly. You might remember her from her previous band Inyeccion, and while I’m a huge fan of Inyeccion’s LP, Cromi has only grown more adept with her instrument since then. Ayucaba’s songs are complex and thoughtfully arranged, filling the album with a wealth of rhythms and melodies that keep the music exciting from moment to moment without feeling scattered. It’s so easy for more ambitious takes on hardcore punk to feel overwrought and lose that sense of directness, but Ayucaba just nails it. They’ve also incorporated a touch of the spooky and cultish vibes from the best underground worldwide 80s hardcore. While the composition, performance, and production are all thoughtful and composed (and hence don’t have the unhinged energy of, say, G.I.S.M. or early Wretched), Ayucaba makes space in their music for the mysterious ambiance that makes so many of those records great. The thoughtfulness also extends to the record’s packaging, with its beautiful screen-printed jacket, poster / lyric insert, and obi strip. Musically ambitious, thoughtfully presented, super vibey, and punk as fuck, Operación Masacre is undoubtedly one of 2025’s best hardcore punk records.