Fractura – S/T

From the ashes of the band Hombre Bestia, Fractura was born in the capital of Chile, Santiago. United by their love of noise rock, post-hardcore, post-rock and the indie movement of the ’90s, they are currently a trio made up of Luis Valdebenito (drums), Daniel Paul (guitar) and Andres Mihovilovich (bass).

At the end of last year, in the midst of the country’s excitement, they surprised us with their debut LP—eight instrumental songs immersed in loose beats and overdriven energy, with an approach similar to that of bands from the Dischord and Touch and Go school. Recorded in the second half of 2019 by Juan Jose Sanchez Elissalde (Gaetano Records). Cover artwork by Valeria Kandalaf Rebolledo.

Repetition is key to the development of the songs presented on this self-titled album, with a heavy distorted bass acting as the engine that drives the whole structure forward. It tends to be very melodic and fluid when needed, keeping the atmosphere grounded as it changes and transitions between moods and emotions, building soundscapes as the distorted guitars intertwine, ravel and break apart in dissonance.

Tracks like “Abaco” and “Lota” are perfect examples of this, with a motif that grows, changes, turns and then shatters, always moving on. The band certainly loves to establish a phrase and a feeling, only to disrupt it.

The longer tracks such as “Del cerro” and “La venganza de las abejas” show how they are able to combine different musical structures and make them flow in a dynamic way. The guitars alternate between piercing melodies, stuttering lines and cutting riffs, while the drums add flavor to the oscillating and undulating rhythms. This is not an album to be bored with, as its fluctuations make it very lively and fascinating.

It’s like an obscure post-hardcore album you might find on an unknown blog or in a lost part of YouTube, but made today and with its own power. Go check it out!