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Sem Hastro debut 7", Washington DC hardcore with a brazilian singer, lyrics in Portuguese. Straight ahead, lo-fi, UK and American 80s hardcore influenced, with a brazilian touch to it.
Screenprinted covers and stamped labels, 500 copies.
Our take: Debut EP from this band that hails from DC, but whose singer sings in Portuguese (at least I think that's what it is!) and is inspired by the classics of South American hardcore. I'm not sure if I'm picking up on much of the Brazilian flavor, but this is a pretty blazing USHC record in my opinion. Not really sticking to any particular subgenre, Sem Hastro sound to me like the first-gen Dischord classics infused with a touch of the UK82 / Riot City Records sensibility (particularly the more hardcore bands like Ultra Violent). The vocalist is quite unhinged, though, with a "gargling glass" kind of sound that grows more intense as the EP progresses... the vocals on the last song, "Derrota," wander slightly off the beat in a way that sounds truly intense and desperate. The EP sounds great, and I'm stoked that there are 8 songs on it... given the amount of material on here, the hand-made packaging, and the obvious work that went into getting a powerful sound, this EP feels weighty and substantial in a way that many records don't. I can't ever see Sem Hastro becoming a hype band really, but if you like good old-fashioned meat and potatoes hardcore this is an understated banger.
Screenprinted covers and stamped labels, 500 copies.
Our take: Debut EP from this band that hails from DC, but whose singer sings in Portuguese (at least I think that's what it is!) and is inspired by the classics of South American hardcore. I'm not sure if I'm picking up on much of the Brazilian flavor, but this is a pretty blazing USHC record in my opinion. Not really sticking to any particular subgenre, Sem Hastro sound to me like the first-gen Dischord classics infused with a touch of the UK82 / Riot City Records sensibility (particularly the more hardcore bands like Ultra Violent). The vocalist is quite unhinged, though, with a "gargling glass" kind of sound that grows more intense as the EP progresses... the vocals on the last song, "Derrota," wander slightly off the beat in a way that sounds truly intense and desperate. The EP sounds great, and I'm stoked that there are 8 songs on it... given the amount of material on here, the hand-made packaging, and the obvious work that went into getting a powerful sound, this EP feels weighty and substantial in a way that many records don't. I can't ever see Sem Hastro becoming a hype band really, but if you like good old-fashioned meat and potatoes hardcore this is an understated banger.