Unidad Ideológica - Choque Asimétrico LP

Listening to UNIDAD IDEOLÓGICA’s Choque Asimétrico hot on the heels of MURO’s rampage on our shores, I can’t help but think that the punk scene in Bogotá might just be best in the world. MURO—of whom UNIDAD IDEOLÓGICA share two members—are a homage to the creativity and diversity of what was loosely defined as ‘hardcore’ in the early 80s, their tracks wouldn’t sound out of place on the International P.E.A.C.E., Sub, or the Great Punk Hits compilations.

Contrasting with this approach UNIDAD IDEOLÓGICA are darker, heavier, and surprisingly modern. There’s still plenty of nods to 80s classics; faster tracks such as opener Absoluta Falsedad bring to mind Japan’s LIP CREAM and GAUZE, the slightly slower stomp of Huir similarly sounds akin to THE CLAY, whereas the manic hardcore of Posthumanista brings to mind early RATOS DE PORÃO (perhaps via FORÇA MACABRA). However, the modern production and approach to song writing adds a sheen of precision to this blend of hardcore and thrash, that could sit comfortably in your collection alongside GELD and locals HISTAMINE. The result is dark, uncompromising yet accessible enough that it might just provide the ‘asymmetrical shock’ (see what I did there) needed to divert the current wave of hardcore fans towards the underground. -Oli