‘Siamo stati morti per troppo o troppo poco tempo, guardate questa follia, questa farsa colorata, preferirei che andassimo per la nostra diversa strada, piuttosto che giocare al gioco che ci lega’ (Pomeriggio Dorato) ‘We have been dead for too much or too little time, look at this madness, this colourful farce, I’d rather we go our different ways, rather than playing the game that binds us’ (Golden Afternoon)

Festa Del Perdono (Feast Of Forgiveness) comprise three parts of Italian hardcore punks Kobra, whose members have also featured in a myriad of other projects including Mirrorism, Ceremonia Secreta, and Spirito Di Lupo (SDL).  And it is perhaps this last reference point that is the most pertinent as Festa Del Perdono share both SDL’s anarcho punk leanings and impressionistic lyrical leanings, but take them in a notably less abrasive, even more determinedly otherworldly, dark wave infused direction.

Each of the EP’s four tracks are skilfully arranged around the fulcrum of the hypnotic, rhythmically infectious Italian spoken word vocals.  Sharp guitars and mechanically propulsive percussion form a similarly consistent component and are then blended throughout with varying fusions of flaring organs, soaring brass flourishes, and ‘woah’ backing vocals, perhaps, to most notable success on the urgently gripping Corpo Di Smeraldo (Emerald Body).

And then, just as you feel you are getting a handle on the band’s trajectory, they unleash the mesmerising, dub fuelled closer, Pomeriggio Dorato (Golden Afternoon).  The EP’s mystically evocative lyrics call upon natural world imagery of sea, fire, and stars to create an atmosphere that is on the one hand almost hazily dream-like, yet on the other, still rooted with firm clarity in the concerns of the actually existing.  A vibrant, unexpected gem.