Perra Vida – Self-Titled EP

No metal breakdowns, no empty macho poses, just straight-up feminist punk raging from Lima’s Perra Vida (translated as “Bitch Life”).

The band was formed earlier this year out of a need to bring something new and different to the Peruvian punk scene, which seems to have little female participation in bands. Perra Vida’s debut EP consists of five tracks that teeter on a world of depression, drug abuse, and patriarchal violence, while hanging on by a thread of hope that things will change.

Perra Vida delivers an energetic blast of angry and slightly melodic hardcore punk sung in Spanish. The relentless punk rock rhythm winds and pounds through these songs, keeping the listener entertained, aware, and angry all at the same time.

The EP opens with “Célebres Plumíferos,” a classic slab of punk rock rage that tells people to wake up from the slumber imposed by the media, politicians and greedy bastards who control our lives. “Heroína” is a self-explanatory song that stems from addiction and drug-related issues in society, while “Nobles e Infames” is a song that criticizes Christianity and organized religion.

The highlight of the record is the fourth song, “Acoso,” which addresses rape culture and sexual harassment. The song was inspired by a real life event from April 2018 when the 22-year old Eyvi Liset Agreda Marchena got burned alive by her stalker inside a public bus at rush hour in Lima.

The song was written from a personal perspective by Perra Vida’s singer Diana to talk about how women have to deal with sexual harassment everywhere; at home, on the street, at shows. The last song on the record, “Dime que no,” is a song addressed to a boy to stop playing games and ruining a relationship.

The EP was recorded in Peru, but mixed and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. The sound is just great for a demo and I’m totally thrilled and excited to hear such good DIY stuff coming out of Peru! This is punk in all its authenticity.