LÖRI - Split 12" w/ Yusuke [2014]

LÖRI was one of the first Latin American bands from Perú I found, as they form part of La Flor Records in Lima (two members also play in Procrastinación Uno Yo Cero, see older post). At the time they were known as Löri Berensön. I was particularly ecstatic about this album when I found it, and had Sajid Ñopo from La Flor send me a copy to the US all the way from Perú. Okay, I suppose it's not that far, but it was a momentous occasion for DIY for La Flor and I was pretty stoked to get a CD from Peru (living in Buenos Aires these days makes acquiring South American music a little easier, so looking back on it feels kinda silly, but it had a romance to it so just go with it). With this album he also threw in Caídas y Vueltas from P1Y0 and the Angkor Wat/Día Gris split on a scratched up mini CD (to this day I haven't gotten a chance to try and play it, but I suppose it doesn't really matter since I have the songs on the compy). I'll do a post on Angkor Wat soon, they rule.

Anyway, LÖRI is a fierce band that was a bit more emo-violence on the first releases and are now have a lot of post-rock elements. The band shrieks and growls and plays some heavily distorted stripped-down riffs that feel punk as frick. Whether they're conscious of it or not, the band definitely takes some root in hardcore punk, from the abrasive shout/scream distorted vocals to the heavy walking drumbeat. Maybe it's just a hardcore punk band that has tastes that lean towards emo? Maybe I've classified this band all wrong, but either way it's pretty slick and contains that serious abrasion and disgust that I sense in a lot of aggressive Peruvian bands. Check out their other stuff on their bandcamp, as their old stuff is super rad and is a bit rougher around the edges.

So, here's the important part: YOU CAN ORDER THIS RECORD RIGHT NOW. Friendly Otter (Chicago) has it up for pre-order HERE, so get your hands on it while you can because Latin American screamo on vinyl is pretty rare and v exciting. It will also be available from Zegema Beach (Canada), La Agonía de Vivir (Spain) and Off Cloud Nine (Michigan).

Edit: Now available at Zegema Beach HERE

Genres: Screamo, Emo-violence, Hardcore Punk, Post Rock

(this is from an older album, listen to the split below)

LÖRI - Split 12" w/ Yusuke [2014]

1. La Taza Medio Llena

2. Cada vez que te levantes a las 6 AM

3. Coherencia

You can listen to the Yusuke side here!

Le-Mat - Diálogos de Sol y Luna [2013]

Le-Mat is a crushing hardcore punk/screamo band from Monterrey, Mexico. It's moments of fast and discordant hardcore that nearly reach the realm of powerviolence or emoviolence are really jarring, displaying an aggressive strength that reveals signs of desperation. You can pretty much feel the record weeping in loneliness amongst a world of a disparate outlook. It's is a really serious record. The number of quotations from famous authors and dramatic sound bytes may be a deterrent to those interested in just hearing the music. That said, it's really tastefully constructed and the topics covered are socio-politically relevant and a coherent philosophical message is on display.

Their mixture of hardcore and screamo is unique and is definitely appealing to followers of both genres. It's pissed off, hopeful, unstoppable, pensive, engaged and heartbreaking. Keep an eye on this band, they're sure to tour the US sometime soon (they just finished an impressive South American tour).

Aquí tienen una entrevista muy buena de la revista Vice que proporciona una mejor idea del impacto social que puede hacer la banda (el entrevistador aparentemente lloró cuando los vio en vivo):
Un Salto al Vacío Con Le-Mat

Y aquí otra entrevista en Santiago de Chile durante su gira latinoamericana:

Genres: Hardcore Punk, Screamo

Le-Mat - Diálogos de Sol y Luna [2013]

1. Prefacio

2. La Roca Hace Cantar al Río

3. Montegrey

4. Llanto de las Abejas

5. Postales desde Roma

6. Elegía

7. 5-7-5

8. Le-Mat

9. Reminiscencias

10. (a)tormenta

Fractal - Demo/EP [2013]

Fractal forms part of the strong scene in Tijuana, México and like many bands in TJ seem to pull from a wide range of genres to put together something that sounds reminiscent of things you've heard before but never in the same song, let alone in the same band. These folks are putting elements of hardcore punk right next to post-rock, and just when you thought you understood where they were going they toss in a ripping guitar solo. They seem to like to let the songs really play out (they're relatively long), which seems to give some sense to their swings from genre to genre, as though each one were a journey through the different emotions one might feel over the course of a week. I really have no clue how I feel about this band, but I do know they're good at their instruments and are worth listening to. As a first listen, I recommend Cuatro Miedos (which I think is the first song that plays on their bandcamp anyways).

Genres: Hardcore Punk, Post Rock, Metal

Fractal - Demo/EP [2013]

1. Polvo

2. Disiento

3. Sin Sangre

4. Cuatro Miedos

5. Julia