Palermo Hardcore part 1
The Golden Age (2005 – 2008)
There once was a time, in the mid-00’s, where the Palermo Punk Hardcore scene was one of the main, most interesting and active scenes in Italy. That is not to say that the years right before or after that the scene was “dead” or that there were no worthy bands. It is however around that time, between 2005 and 2008 more or less that that scene reached its cultural and musical peak. At that time, there were many very good local bands. Many people around that time got close and passionate to the scene which contributed to the growth of one of the best scenes in Italy. From being an isolated phenomenon, possibly because of its geographical location or possibly because of the fact that there were few places where to play, Palermo has become a hotspot for many bands, both Italian and international.
Before talking about it some more, it is worth saying I am not the most suitable person to talk about those times because I have not lived those and I came a little after even if at a time where the scene was still prolific and active. I saw my first Punk Hardcore concert on the 25th April 2009 at ExKarcere with Impact and three other bands from Palermo whose name we will come back to more than once in this text, Rats Riot, Feccia Tricolore and Senza Tregua.
This wants to then be a tribute to pay homage to the best Punk Hardcore years of my city also in order to get people to know the intricacies of a reality that is often overlooked and ignored. It is a short portrait of those years without focusing too much on people or anecdotes but on the bands, their records, their concerts, the squats, venues and labels. In short, all that was part of the Golden Age of Hardcore in Palermo.
I think we should start this by talking about a cd that came out at the beginning of the period we are looking at without descending into a chronological approach. To introduce this I think the incipit that Joel, one of the many in the scene and an admin at Punk4free, used to review the first studio effort by LxExAxRxNx in November of 2006 is very fitting: “We
finally have on a band from Palermo on this shitty website. Ladies and Gentlemen I have the duty and the honour to review “First Lesson” the first album by LxExAxRxNx. They are bringing the mourned Palermo scene back. Much like the phoenix rises from the ashes, this excellent band (together with Bust Up and the disbanded Sonny Corleone) brought the music that matters back to the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.”
Let’s start with them. In Palermo and beyond, LxExAxRxNx are is one of
the bands that even if short-lived has left a larger mark on those years and those coming after. The band saw Alberto, singer, Cimino and Marco, guitars, Ivan, bass and Giorgio, drums coming together and forming in 2005. In that same year they publish their first album, “First Lesson” on CD-R. The following year thanks to many labels from all around the world, that same album is printed on a 7” format. 500 copies in black and 500 in red. The cover, very emblematic, is by Michele Ink4riot, a recurring figure in this, who’d then come to be known as Zerocalcare.
“First Lesson” is one of the best 7” from those years, incredibly heavy fastcore, high-speed, high-impact. The tracks don’t run for over the 1 minute mark,
deadly riffs, very poignant, sung in English a heavy dumpa dumpa onslaught. All the tracks are amazing. My favourites are definitely “8bit fight”, “You skate/ we feel hate” and the well done covers of “Tough
Guy” by Beastie Boys and “Seeing red” by Minor Threat. After that LxExAxRxNx came out with three splits with three different bands. It is definitely worth mentioning the 2008 one with the American band
Common Enemy. In this album there are a lot of memorable, classic tracks from the band as well such as “It’s time to learn” and “We hate mosh parts” as well as the iconic “DIY”.
A friend of theirs for both gigs in Palermo and beyond was Burst Up a band active from 2003 and 2008, one of the first bands to play powerviolence, influenced by bands like Spazz and Charles Bronson. The lineup was made up by Ivan, vocals, Roberto, guitar, Riccardo, bass and Giovanni, drums. The band produced two studio records, “Pure faster Armageddon” on cdr in 2005 and a 12” vinyl split with Thrash Brigade from Milan.
Lightning fast Stop and go, distorted bass, hammering drums, shouted vocals alternating perfectly are part of Burst Up’s winning recipe. “Meg is wanted”, “Burn asshole Burn!”, “Sweet Pill”, “Backstreet terror” are some of the best live-wire tracks in the band’s studio discography. Recently the band has come back to play a couple of live shows like in 2013 and 2019 for the second edition of the Passao Fest at ExKarcere as an opening act to the Dutch band Vitamin X.
Continuing with the fastest and most violent hardcore we must talk about Elopram by Totò Thrasher, the vocalist together with Vicio, on the guitars, Max on the bass and Corro on the drums. They produced one record only, one of the best of the time imho, the 2008 split with the band from Catania Scholars. Those listening to this album for the first time might think that the album features two vocalists. In actuality Totò sung both with a growl and a very sharp shouty scream. A crazy mix that together with excellent guitar riffs makes every track very intense. It featured bangers like “Aracnofobia”, “Tatò till trash”, the mythical “Fatica” and “Odio le tue azioni”, their best track in my opinion. From the ashes of Elopram came ANF, still active as of today.
Moving along with a more classic brand of hardcore here are F.U.G., the most long-lasting band from the city, born in 1999. Essentially a power-trio: Ecumenicus playing guitars and vocals, Giugi playing bass and Giacomazzi at the drums. The group continued as such until for a short time Bizio (Semprefreski, Kali Yuga and other) sang for them.
F.U.G. sound can be described as straightforward, no fuss, few well-distorted chords, insistent rhythms Punk Hardcore influenced by 80’s American Hardcore. The band released its first 7’ in 2001 but around those years they published their first length and a second EP. 2005’s “Can I have your skull?” is, starting from the cover made by Marco Failla “Balatonizer”, a cd that engrosses, involves, and pushes you to mosh until you drop. Tracks like “Stinkin’ hippies” and “Heavy metal rules” are anthemic, classic tracks. Their next 7” is also very strong. It came out in 2008 with the name Sumus Animalia. It is even faster and more Ramones-like if you will.
Their last record was a 2010 12” split with Soviet Nuns, another Palermo Punk Hc band, born around that time. Their lineup was Corrado as the vocalist, Roberto as the Guitarist, Ivan playing bass (Andrea took his place afterwards, Fulvio on drums. The band came back a couple years ago playing Post Punk/New Wave.
Another band worth mentioning is Values Intact. They had a very direct, aggressive but also dynamic and engaging sound, a mix of the late Turning Point and Heave Heart. Straight edge, the band came from the ashes of No way out, the first SXE band in the city, in the early 00’s. The band’s line-up saw Jovy- vocals, Marco – guitar, Giax – guitar, Andrea – bass, Turi – drums (who will take the place of Marco G). Formed in 2003, it disbands a couple of years later in 2008. Their discography is very rich and has many different EPs, both on CD and 7” Vinyl, splits and one full length.
Their first effort was titled “Hope for freedom”, a 2003 EP that showcases a strong impact sound, great musical skills and how important the lyrics were, a message from that the band wants to push track after track. In 2005 they release their first full length, “Dear Hometown”, one of the best records of that time, one of the best examples of composing by the band. It is a direct and energetic Hardcore. It showcases incredibly fast moments strengthened by memorable gang vocals and a great performance by Jovy, the singer.
In its two years active, the band will produce three releases: a 2007 cd split with Alone and one with the American band At Half-Mast on 7” vinyl in 2008 as well as another EP with the name “Here hearts”. This last one is their effort I prefer. It is a 7” in which every track is energetic. The guitar-work in the album is excellent and has an intensity that pervades the whole record. This same intensity characterised the band’s live performances and their lyrics which went from introspection to positive approach to straight-edge themes, anti-specism and animal, human and earth liberation. “We share the hearts”, “Death can wait”, “Words as knives” are among the tracks that are most representative and involving from the band.
Among the more politicised bands is Feccia Tricolore which featured Nico on vocals, Vicè on the guitar, Andrea on the bass and Piparo on the drums. Piparo is one you will find in many line-ups because the lack of drummers hits every scene in every city. The band begins playing in 2002 and produces two studio releases in the following years with another one which came out in 2015. Their first full length is from 2006, on CD. We can find Zerocalcare’s hand on this record cover, which is fantastic, this time as well. The band plays an Oi! Influenced Punk Hardcore with some more rhythmic parts and thrash riffs.
We can also find strong Italian lyrics in which many themes are expressed ranging from what power is to anticapitalism, to direct action against the State and its repressive apparatus. “Dignità e coerenza”, “Generazione morta”, “Potere controllo catene” are all instant classics from the band. The songs are shouted along by the crowd at every one of their concerts. Two yers later, in 2008, the band produces a CD split with the band “A Fora De Arrastu”. Here the drums are powerful and on point, the vocals are scathing featuring tracks such as “Diserta le urne” a “Ora!”. Fun fact, both bands Feccia Tricolore first and A Fora De Arrastu later will produce a split with Affluente.
If we move right along the Oi! Line we cannot forget to mention the band Senza Tregua, formed in 2004 which came out with an excellent 2007 album. The band was made up of Giosuè on vocals, Claudio on guitars, Scopetta on bass (Carlo took his place later on) and Marco on drums. Senza Tregua’s Oi! was the kind of Oi! that had plenty of energetic and aggressive sounds, one very much like that of the band Colonna Infame Skinhead. The only real full length they produced was self-titled and it was inflammatory as shown by “Fuoco alle galere”, “FN in fiamme”, “Fiamme al tricolore” and it showcases all the characteristics of the band: rough and guttural vocals, excellent guitar riffs, pulsating bass and powerful and precise drums.
Another band that was a mix between Street Punk and Hardcore is that of the band Stesso Sporco Sangue which had Claudio from Senza Tregua, Scopetta playing bass and vocals and Peppe playing drums. The line-up saw many changes with Simone coming in for vocals, Alessio playing bass and Matteo, drums, and Leonardo as second guitar. After many other changes with Maurilio as bassist and Giorgio on the drums. The band formed in 2005 published the EP “Destini Segnati” the following year while their next releases are more recent and have more to do with Crossover Thrash.