Mala Sangre - Mata Mata (Review)

 Mala Sangre are a hardcore punk band from Erie, Pennsylvania. They’re also most likely your favorite local band’s favorite local band. 

Consisting of Carlos Rivera (guitar/vocals), Eliezer Rivera (bass/vocals), and Mike Lozano (drums), they’re a powerhouse trio and their shows are an onslaught of energy, speed, and vigor with a healthy amount of ball busting to go around. And last month they put out their sixth album, Mata Mata. 

For a little background, Mala was one of the bands Massive Denial opened for when we had our first show as a group, which was also my first show in six years after a sabbatical from performing music live. It was them, us, Maniacial Device, Requiem for Oblivion during a particularly hot July day in 2021 where I performed a good portion of my gigs - Basement Transmissions. I get off the stage and up comes Mala Sangre. 

The only thing I’d known about them at that point was that they’re an old school hardcore punk band and their guitarist/lead singer was my singer’s dad and their bass player was my singer’s uncle. A family affair - I can dig it. So, they get on and do their thing and completely tore it up on stage. I admire when a band can bring on an excellent live show and Mala are definitely Erie’s best live band. Listening to them reminded me of what I found so great when I dug into punk when I was a preteen digging into older bands, looking for demo tapes, EP’s, albums to get a better picture of punk and metal music. Ramones, Minor Threat, OFF!, Circle Jerks, etc; all the influences were there and I’m sure that’s how fans of those bands felt when they first listened to them. Electrifying! I was a fan ever since. 

MATA MATA (Tracklisting) 

“WEAPONIZED POVERTY” 

“SEE YOU IN COURT”

”POWER WOUND” 

“BRING ON THE DARKNESS” 

“NO TOMORROW”

”WHORE’S CHILD” 

“I WALK INTO SODOM”

”MATA MATA” 

“SECRET PLACE”

”ROLLING ON” 

“UN PUNO” 

“COMING HOME TO FIGHT”

”DEJAME SOLO”

Speaking of family affairs, Mata Mata is full of them (that and a lot of collaborations.) We got Cameron Rivera producing the album and on soloing on  “POWER WOUND” and “NO TOMORROW.” Most of Eden on Fire on “BRING ON THE DARKNESS.” Penny Racer’s Jeff Burick on “SECRET PLACE.” Jose Rivera on “DEJAME SOLO.” ‘Morbid Rob’ of Maniacial Device on “WHORE’S CHILD.” Then we’ve got Dread Metal Production’s Jay ‘Dread Metal’ Durnell on “POWER WOUND.” Quite the stacked lineup of guests! If you weren’t on there, then I guess you ain’t shit (Or should ask next time.) 

The thing about Mata Mata is that by the time I was done outlining and working on paragraph two of this article the album was just about done. Mata Mata’s a little under twenty-six minutes. It’s a very short runtime, but there’s thirteen rapid fast tunes coming at you. With the longest track being nearly four minutes in “Bring on the Darkness.” It’s like one of their shows actually. They set up, play as much as they can, and get the fuck off the stage before they overstay their welcome. It’s what they do, and they’re brilliant at it. Mala Sangre are masters playing around with their craft. 

A big thing to point out with Mala is that they sound immensely huge for a three-piece band. Carlos is a barrage of barking (along with Elie’s vocals) and riffs that’s nonstop until the record’s done. A huge compliment to Elie with his bass playing is that he finds the sweet spots of where to explore on his bass’s fretboard whilst never ceasing speed, keeping up with the madness. I outta know, that shit is hard. And Mike on drums is truly something to behold and is without a doubt the best punk drummer in Erie. A masterclass in what they do can only come from years of bouncing ideas off of one another, and Mata Mata is a record that’s absolutely made out of jamming in a garage or basement and ironed out until perfected. 

My favorite tracks: Whore’s Child, Power Wound, Rolling On, and Dejame Solo 

I totally recommend Mata Mata, but urge you to go see Mala Sangre if you’ve never seen them live. They’re just too much damn fun!