The Portuguese punks are still as furious as ever after nearly 20 years!
It’s strange how some of the most abrasive, fierce and downright evil-sounding music comes from some of the sunniest, most beautiful places. For example, the so-called ‘sunshine state’ of Florida has birthed what is arguably the USA’s most fertile death metal scene. And clearly even picturesque Portugal must have a dark side; how else to explain the existence of Dokuga and ‘Antes Do Fim’?
According to a recent interview, the band set out to be “punk, filthy and honest” and they’ve succeeded on all counts. They mostly sing in Portuguese, but there are translations of the lyrics in the liner notes, so we can verify that they are as pissed off and disillusioned with the world (and life in general) as you’d expect from a band of their genre.
For the most part ‘Antes Do Fim’ comes across as a mix of UK82 and D-beat influences with the odd metallic flourish here and there. They clearly know their classic Exploited and Discharge records back to front, but those Portuguese lyrics and occasional squalling solos also bring to mind Brazilian crossover veterans Ratos De Porão.
Admittedly, the relentless pace means that some of the tracks on ‘Antes Do Fim’ kind of blend into one big melange of pounding drums, warp-speed riffing and Kisto’s gravel-throated vocals. Those are all highly potent ingredients, though, and when songs like ‘Esquecido’ and ‘Tudo Me Mete Nojo’ hit with the speed and force of a runaway bullet train, it’s understandable that they’d stick to a formula that works this well.
They do have a surprise up their sleeve, though; a gloriously roughed-up cover of The Pogues’ ‘Boys From The County Hell’ that would surely have Shane MacGowan (RIP) raising a celestial pint of Guinness in approval. Clearly, Dokuga haven’t let the trials of life blunt their sense of humour, and for that we salute them.
All that’s left to say is that we can’t wait to find out how ‘Antes Do Fim’ sounds when played live. Some UK dates soon, please, guys?
‘Antes Do Fim’ is out now on Garagem Records – check it out HERE
- Cada Vez Menos
- Burros Do Caralho
- Esquecido
- Wizz Wizz
- Ira
- Cinzento
- Na Sombra
- Tudo Me Mete Nojo
- O Momento Antes Do Fim
- Guts Not Glory
- BFCH
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I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
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