Finnish hardcore legends Kaaos, Rattus, and Terveet Kädet have had an immeasurable influence on underground punk in all corners of the world, and you can clearly hear the echo of their chaotic punk sound in the work of New York City/Leipzig’s band Sirkka.
Sirkka started as a two-piece recording project in NYC and released their debut Kuluttava Kone cassette tape in 2020. There have been numerous international bands trying to emulate the early 1980s hardcore sound of Finland so precisely they even sing in Finnish—bands like Kirottu from the Boston area were probably among the best Kaaos clones in the US in the beginning of the ‘00s. The Kaaos-clone description, however, doesn’t apply the slightest to Sirkka, even though they tick all the boxes when it comes to the classic band’s key strengths.
On Sirkka’s sophomore release, Viivyttely EP, singer Sanja is still charging her snarling shouts in Finnish but the band has evolved from a two-piece recording project into a full-fledged hardcore punk quartet, and, if I’m not mistaken, they are even going to play their first shows in 2023. Well, they now share members scattered between NYC and Leipzig, Germany, so don’t expect them to be actively touring near your area. In its seven minutes, Viivyttely is a fast and frenetic ride with rip-roaring vocals, infectious guitar licks, and pulverizing drum fills. Much like Kohti Tuhoa, Finland’s modern-day heirs of the classic sound, Sirkka are pushing the envelope of the favorite ‘80s hardcore in new and exhilarating directions. It might not seem like it, but it takes a high level of skill and creativity to make music as crude and chaotic as this in a way that’s still fresh and relevant today.
Released on a 7-inch vinyl by Sorry State Records, Sirkka’s Viivyttely EP features five blistering tracks of unrelenting ‘80s hardcore punk savagery that will surpass all standards in the genre.
