Following directly on their heels of their 2021 debut EP, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil’s band Lasso deliver another dose of angst-ridden hardcore punk soaked in dark, melodic guitar leads with death rock sensibility.
Lasso formed in the beginning of 2020 just before the pandemic struck, but they’ve all been experienced in various local projects and were quick to become one of the most interesting bands to come out of the Brazilian underground in recent times.
Lasso’s latest Amuo EP, released in March 2022, consists of seven fast-paced bangers brimming with creativity and rage. Just like their debut EP, Amuo is a dark and intense blend of churning riffs, anguished vocals and punchy bass drives—mixing the straightforward hardcore punk sound of yore with hints of death rock that will especially appeal to fans of Rudimentary Peni. There are even some Dead Kennedys-esque surf punk elements, respectively on “Fechado Em Copas” and “Atarantado”, while the record closer “Mendaz” is more of a mid-paced stomper in the old-style USHC tradition. None of the tracks exceed the two-minute mark, so it’s fair to say Amuo is certified hardcore bruiser.
The lyrics are cryptic, gloomy and desperate, but not entirely exaggerated reflections of the shit world we live in. I also love the fact that Lasso still sing in Brazilian Portuguese on their second release. I prefer when bands sing in their local language even if no translations are provided. The record has pen and ink artwork by the artist Carlos Casotti, who also seems to be a huge fan of Rudimentary Peni’s Nick Blinko in both style and atmosphere. I was waiting a long time to get this fantastic release on vinyl, and now I can wholeheartedly say it’s one of my favorite seven-inches of 2022. Can’t wait to hear a full-length from Lasso!
