‘Bajo la luna, Haciendo tiempo para bailar, Y espacio para enamorar, La alegria no podemos rindar, Arriesgo contra sociedad mecánica’ (Fracasos Victorías) / Under the moon, Making time to dance, And space to fall in love, We cannot surrender joy, I risk it against a mechanical society’ (Failures Victories)

Screaming Fist hail from Oakland and feature among their rank’s members of Acts Of Sedition, Silent Era, The Separation, Tørsö, Urban Sprawl, and Vaaska to name but a few.  Santa Plaga (Holy Plague) is the band’s second 7-inch, following up 2019’s Templanza (Temperence).  It sees the band continue to hone their bracingly fast, combative hardcore.  It is laced with an uplifting melodicism that brings to mind a burlier take on Iberian punk in the vein of say Rotura and Suicidas.

The brightly sharp, hook laden guitars are particularly evocative of this style, while the rhythm section injects a rapid fire yet decidedly muscular heft.  Meanwhile, Jasmine Watson hands over her usual bass duties in favour of delivering an absolutely blistering vocal performance that, at times, echoes the exuberant drama of Faucheuse.  She brings an impassioned aggression and melodic nuance to bear with equal relish as the poetically framed lyrics contemplate themes of entrenched poverty, the power of community, and religious misogyny.

There is a revitalising vigour to each of the five tracks, with the galloping twists and turns of Gotas (with its imperious NWOBHM tinged vocal crescendos), the vibrantly layered vocals of Fracasos Victorías, and the martial fury of Está Detrás de Ti (It’s Behind You) delivering a particular slap to the senses.