Review: LaTebra – Oltre L’ultimo Grido

LATEBRA, Peroni and HC from Trento’s streets

Trentino: a land full of mountains, forests and amazing hardcore groups (Ludd, Grandine, Attrito and Congegno just to name a few): these valleys are becoming a guarantee for the genre and “Oltre l’ultimo grido” (Beyond the last scream) it’s a clear confirmation of it.

Since the first track the album starts at full speed: it’s like a bucket of water straight to the face in the early morning.
The album is something more than the usual (but always appreciated) ‘tupa-tupa’: the instrumental basis are strong, these are really good musicians. There are some trash metal elements that enrich the atmosphere of the tracks, adding a bit of variety, it’s easy to recognize the musical influences from some quotes hidden here and there (for instance I noticed a clear reference to a famous Norwegian weirdo: “and suddenly live has new meaning”).
In all of this, they managed to add some quiet interludes, for instance in “Come una lapide”/”As a tombstone”: some gloomy arpeggios that create some intriguing atmospheres, some breaks in this hardcore storm.

Some intros and extras can be found in the tracks, quotes from movies or interviews, perfect introductions or integration to the songs. The lyrics swing from the best and violent ignorance: “I just want to get wild, i just want to drink wine!” in “Trento Violenta”/”Violent Trento” to street politics, with some pills of dark poetry: “We are searching a foe to fight / since ever the most evil / it’s inside the maze / since ever the most grotesque / it’s in front of the mirror” in “Come una lapide”. Everything it’s perfectly balanced, as I would expect from some people that “read enough books before holding a knife” (“Nella penombra bieca” / “In the creepy dim light”).
Moreover they offer us also 6 very interesting pictures in the booklet, these guys are giving us a bit of everything!

Summarizing: I liked this album! Strong music, a lot of energy in the lyrics… You need to listen to it!
I would give just one suggestion: try to build up a little more the voice. The screams are really good, but with a bit of work on the power and the precision of them the final effect could be explosive, considering the potential of the group! Great job Latebra, keep it up!

Rating: 8/10

Review by Max