An Oi! punk band from Costa Rica with a twin-guitar lineup and Spanish-language vocals. That’s Wrong Side, and this 12″ vinyl marks their debut release, issued in Europe by Primator Crew and in the USA by Oi! The Boat Records. The record contains an intro and five full songs. It comes on classic black vinyl, complete with eye-catching artwork and printed lyrics for every track.
Wrong Side waste no time getting down to business. From the very first moments, they unleash an intense brand of Oi! punk driven by two guitars. The opening track, ¡Cuanto Asco Me Das!, is a full-on assault built around aggressive gang vocals, a raw sound, and a strong punk spirit. The combination of its rough-edged production and relentless energy creates a powerful atmosphere. It is followed by Policías Del Pensamiento, which ventures into darker territory. The guitars create a more ominous mood, while the band experiments more with sound and arrangement. The result is a track with a distinctive character and several memorable guitar passages. The darker atmosphere is reinforced by the lyrics, which throughout the record are generally bleak, confrontational, and filled with frustration.
Temores is a proper punk crusher built on scraping guitars and chant-like vocals. Between the verses, the song is broken up by thunderous guitar passages that give it a slightly experimental feel, recalling some of the rawer punk recordings of the 1980s. Que Desgracia! begins with a slower intro before exploding into a powerful streetpunk attack packed with tempo changes and shifting moods. The record closes with Arrogantes & Elegantes, arguably the most modern-sounding track of the bunch. Strong gang vocals, catchy singalong choruses, and plenty of energy make it a fitting finale to the release.
This is a very interesting record. The fact that it comes from a country rarely associated with the Oi! scene already gives it a certain uniqueness. More importantly, Wrong Side avoid simply copying current trends and instead carve out their own path. The band isn’t afraid to experiment with sound, pays close attention to the atmosphere of each song, and draws inspiration from the punk wave of the 1980s. The result is a distinctive, raw, and at times surprisingly dark release
TOP TRACKY: Temores, ¡Cuanto Asco Me Das!
