‘Distruggo le fondamenta di un destino che non ho scelto, Il presagio di un eterno ritorno, Noi non siamo eco, L’anima ormai in framenti può spezzare il meccanismo?’ (Oltre) ‘I destroy the foundation of a destiny I didn’t choose, The omen of an eternal recurrence, We’re not just echoes, Can a soul now in pieces break the system?’ (Beyond)

Milan’s Lucta are back with their debut album, Eterna Lotta (Eternal Struggle), a follow-up to 2018’s demo, Black Magic Punks.  The band forge an unholy alliance between dark punk and 1980s’ Italian hardcore.  This sees the band unleash a rabidly lean onslaught that segues seamlessly from blistering riffage to eruptions of stomping mid-paced power, laced throughout with flourishes of fuzzed out, mystically-tinged melodicism.

The centrepiece though is the Italian vocals – strident, semi-shouted, with just a dash of melody, they are delivered with truly venomous intent.  Lyrically, the album explores themes of rage with current social injustices, while simultaneously grappling with a sense of helplessness and a defiant recognition that this is a particular battle that will never end.  Stand out moments include the slab-like ferocity of Il Peso Di Ieri (The Weight Of Yesterday), the rhythmic, staccato fury of Oltre (Beyond), and the cathartically charged closing title track.