Venenö are a band from New York who describe themselves as a mix of 1980s punk, Oi!, and a touch of post-punk. The lineup includes current and former members of bands such as 45 Adapters, The Stance, The New York Hounds, The Take, Rododendrons, The Press, and other crews from New York and Boston. I personally noticed Venenö some time ago after seeing a rehearsal room video, which made it immediately clear that this would be an interesting and far-from-generic project.
Stylistically, this is punk / rock built around smooth guitar work, lead lines, and a slightly slower to mid-tempo pace. Venenö are not about heaviness, speed, or forced genre-mixing; instead, they focus on catchy motifs across all the songs. What I really appreciate is that the release came out on a 7″ format containing five tracks. Even though I don’t play as a selector as often as I used to, I’ve always preferred a small format packed with several strong songs over a full-length record from which you end up playing just one standout track. I’m aware that production costs for 7″ records have risen significantly, but I still see releases through this lens and didn’t want to leave that unmentioned. The EP was released by Mendeku Diskak, so the overall presentation is solid, complete with a nice, artistic cover. Personally, I would have welcomed printed lyrics so I could practice my Spanish even more—this way I’m picking up the words as best I can directly from the recording, since most of the lyrics are in Spanish.
A Beber is built around a catchy guitar line complemented by smooth vocals. It’s melodic, infectious, and genuinely addictive. This song grabbed me the first time I heard its early rehearsal version, and it was the main reason I was really looking forward to this project. Next comes Fotocopias, a track that follows a similar formula but is built around two alternating lines, with intense gang vocals in the chorus switching with slightly unhinged lead vocals. Once again, it’s addictive and works perfectly. Japon is a relatively short song, but its chorus sticks in my head every single time.
The B side features two tracks that feel more experimental. This Place maintains a slightly gloomy post-punk / experimental atmosphere with urgent vocals. The mood gradually intensifies, making it feel like the longest track on the EP. The record closes with Double Moral. I can’t help it, but this song strongly reminds me of La Inquisición, if their sound were presented at a slower tempo. A heavy, rumbling track with a very prominent bass line—once again, excellent.
The Spanish language suits the entire EP perfectly and fits seamlessly into the overall atmosphere of the record. This is a much more artistic approach to music (I don’t even really want to call it punk) than what I usually listen to, and I’m genuinely excited about it. The first three songs are more energetic and closer to punk, while the second side slows things down and becomes more melancholic. It’s very much about mood and feeling—and it works beautifully. Five songs, ten minutes, a serious dose of quality. This is one you want in your collection.
TOP TRACKS: A Beber, Fotocopias
