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Official reissue of the Argentine INVASION 88 compilation originally released by Radio Tripoli in 1988 and which was the recording debut for several bands that appear on it. The bands, contributing 2 songs each, are LOS LAXANTES, ATTAQUE 77, DIVISION AUTISTA, FLEMA, EXEROICA, COMANDO SUICIDA, DEFENSA Y JUSTICIA, RIGIDEZ KADAVERIKA, CONMOCIÓN CEREBRAL and LOS BARAJA. The reissue includes the original fanzine with twice as many pages, including English translation of all the lyrics/texts and new art/photos on the new pages, keeping the originals as they originally came out. The reissue also includes a DVD with the documentary HEROXS DEL 88 by Hitoshi Diaz about the album in question, unpublished songs by CONMOCION CEREBRAL and the extra songs included in the reissue that was made on CD with live songs by LOS BARAJA and ATTAQUE 77 , photos of the bands and a short film edited exclusively for this release by Patra Exeroica with never-before-seen live footage from the era of COMANDO SUICIDA, CONMOCION CEREBRAL, FLEMA, EXEROICA, SECUESTRO and ENEMA.
Our take: Fuego a las Fronteras brings us another high-quality reissue, this time of the 1988 Argentine punk compilation Invasion 88. While Invasion 88 came out in 1988, it documents ten bands from the Argentine punk scene that existed between 1984 and 1988, so it takes in earlier eras of the punk scene. Actually, most of the bands here have 70s punk sound, taking inspiration from bands like the Clash, though including straight edge band Division Autista proves Argentina wasn’t cut off from what was happening in the rest of the world in the late 80s. Each of the 10 bands get two tracks, and I wouldn’t call any of them a dud, though standouts for me include Division Autista’s chaotic-sounding melodic hardcore, the all-woman band Exeroica, and the blistering Partisans-esque track “Ratis” by Defensa Y Justicia, a short-lived offshoot of Attaque 77 (who is also on the compilation). The music is great, but as with Fuego a las Fronteras, the package is full of material that deepens the listener’s engagement with and appreciation of the music. The original pressing of Invasion 88 came with a booklet insert with information and lyrics from all the bands, and this reissue expands that booklet to include English translations of all of this material without disrupting the original’s aesthetic. Additionally, this version comes with a DVD featuring a full-length documentary about the compilation, Heroxs Del 88. While I haven’t watched the whole thing yet (though it’s at the top of my to-do list!), the trailer makes it look like American Hardcore for 80s Argentine punk. A historically important record reissued with a ton of cool extras for a great price… what more could a punk want?