Last month (6/2/17), Russian hardcore punk band Svetlanas released their fourth full-length album, titled This Is Moscow Not LA via Rad Girlfriend Records. This Is Moscow Not LA is the band’s first new release since their split with The Dwarves in 2016 and their first full-length since Naked Horse Rider in 2015.
The most dangerous band in the world is back, and this time they’re out for blood! Combining forces with bass player Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age and The Dwarves), Svetlanas effortlessly unleash a barrage of ten hard hitting, politically charged punk rock anthems.
Wasting no time getting going, the band starts off the album with “Putin On Da Hitz”, a scathing criticism of the Russian government and its leaders (the band was exiled from Russia in 2014 because of their controversial political ideas and are considered enemies of the state).
From there, This Is Moscow Not LA continues to pick up speed and it doesn’t slow down until the final notes of “People Suck” (the album’s final track). Even party songs like “Let’s Get Drunk” and “Vodka N’ Roll” are played at a breakneck pace, packed full of driving drum beats, face melting guitar solos and explosive choruses.
All of that combined with frontwoman Olga’s aggressive and in-your-face vocals make This Is Moscow Not LA an unforgettable musical experience that even the pickiest of hardcore fans can’t help but love.
This Is Moscow Not LA easily stands out as one of the best hardcore releases of 2017. Once it’s over you can’t help but listen to it again and again.
Fans of bands like Agnostic Front, F-Minus, Victim Culture and Petrol Girls will love Svetlanas. Several notable tracks from This Is Moscow Not LA include: “Negative Approach”, “Speed Freak” (a Motorhead cover and a very nice touch), “Put Your Middle Fingers Up” and “Where Is My Borscht”.
Album Score: 4.5/5
Watch the music video for “Let’s Get Drunk”:
Stream/purchase a digital copy of This Is Moscow Not LA from Rad Girlfriend Records’ Bandcamp page here:
https://radgirlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-moscow-not-la
Purchase a Vinyl/CD copy of the album from Rad Girlfriend Records’ website here:
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