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Nicolasa Quintremán (1939-2013) was a Mapuche woman defender of the Bio Bio river known for her fierce opposition to the construction of the Ralco de Endesa hydroelectric plant. In 1997, this company began construction of the plant, forcing the Pehuenche communities that inhabited those lands to abandon them. Dozens of families were displaced, but Nicolasa, together with her sister Berta de ella, refused to leave and fought to the end of their strength.
Nicolasa's body was found in the waters of the artificial reservoir of the dam on December 24, 2013. The official version stated that Nicolasa died from an accidental fall, for us, as for many people, Nicolasa was murdered.
"I don't have to leave. Dead I will leave my land, but not alive."
We do not want to idealize any people or any struggle, but we believe that Nicolasa Quintreman is an example of a firm and constant confrontation against capitalism and the established power. This album is dedicated to her and to all the people who have lost their lives fighting against injustice and colonialism.
If you want to know more about the Endesa case against the Mapuche people, we recommend the documentary "Turn off and let's go" (2005) by Manel Mayol.
Our take: Self-released EP from this Spanish band, whose title memorializes a woman who stood up to colonialism and lost her life because of it. I’ll let you watch the documentary film recommended in the record’s official description to learn more, and I’ll focus on the music here. And the music rips! Piñen is fast, raw, loose, and heaving with punk energy. The tracks on Nicolasa Quintremán teeter on the edge of chaos in a way that reminds me of Wretched, but the snotty vocals pull the sound in a different, catchier direction. Piñen sounds a lot like the 2000s-era Barcelona band Otan, who I think is one of the most underrated punk bands of this millennium. The recording here sounds like a bunch of punks playing together in a room, pouring every ounce of passion into their performance. It is totally electric and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
- Label: self-released
- Format Type: 7"
- Media Condition: Mint (M)
- Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
- Genre: punk
- Genre Style: hardcore
- Year: 2023