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
Follow Dokuga on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Shake Some Acton gig #112, London Hope & Anchor, 9th Sep 2025
Teo Wise and his band have come all the way from Italy, and from the start, it’s clear that they’re having a ball, with the
Interview: Alex gets to know UK punk trio Everyone Lies
Miss the glory days of Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords-style skate punk? It’s safe to say that Southampton trio Everyone Lies do too, as they’re
EP review: Club Brat – ‘4 Songs’
Sure, there are elements of great bands like Fugazi, Refused, At The Drive-In and Les Savy Fav, but Club Brat have taken those influences and
Live review: WitchDoktors, Kingston Fighting Cocks, 5th Sep 2025
Of all the many great punk and rock n’ roll bands that Witchdoktors recall, Rocket From The Crypt are forefront in our minds tonight; not
Shake Some Acton gig #111, London Hope & Anchor, 2nd Sep 2025
Not only do the French quartet turn in a belter of an 18-song set, sounding like a bunch of garage-punks who’ve broken into Devo’s practice
Book review: ‘An Anarchy Of Demons’ By Charlie Harper
Punk legend Charlie Harper recounts many escapades and amusing moments from throughout his long life in his autobiography ‘An Anarchy Of Demons’. It will appeal
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.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
