When you think of Puerto Rico you think of Bad Bunny, piña coladas, and sunny beaches. It is, after all, one of the top places to live for people who love tax evasion and gentrification. But beneath the Caribbean allure of our beautiful archipelago lies a quite diverse underground music scene that has been going on for more than 30 years.
Puerto Rico’s underground music scene is not as big as the rest of the Latin American scene. There are a lot of talented musicians who throughout the years have helped create a particular sound that has its roots in (mostly) American hardcore and Spanish/Basque punk, with some variations throughout the years. It is a scene that has struggled to survive in a land where rock is still seen as “the Devil’s music” and local musicians interested in these genres don’t have much incentive to play this music other than having an outlet to express their ideas and have fun.
Thanks to the effort of those individuals who kept pushing forward after three major natural disasters, a pandemic, and a volatile socio-political climate, the Puerto Rican scene is still going strong.
This is not a definite list. The bands featured here are either currently active bands who have released music recently or bands who I believe deserve more attention.
[Special thanks to D Massa Productions for use of their photos!]
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Tropiezo
With over 25 years performing the most ferocious and politically charged hardcore to ever come out of Puerto Rico, Tropiezo shows no signs of slowing down. Powered by a mix of furious riffs, confrontational lyrics, and wild live shows that puts younger bands to shame. Simply put; Tropiezo are PRHC royalty.
Standout tracks: "Mi Peor Enemigo Soy Yo," "No Te Enlistes," "Sabes Mucho De Lo Que A Nadie Le Importa"
Instagram: @tropiezohcpunx
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Manra
Manra has captured the essence of the “weirder” side of '90s hardcore, emo, and traditional Puerto Rican music elements in a way that sounds natural and energetic. With just a couple of demos and eps they have found their place in the Puerto Rican hardcore scene as one of the most unique acts in the last decade.
Standout tracks: "El Diluvio," "Made2Stay," "Paupei"
Instagram: @manrahc
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Costras
One of Puerto Rico’s newer bands, Costras can be controversial, in your face, and chaotic on and off stage. With a sound that is very firmly rooted in Spanish and Latin American punk rock, hardcore fans can appreciate their fuzzy, jagged sound that goes for the throat and never lets go.
Standout tracks: "No Se Que Hacer," "Puñeta," "Quiero Vivir"
Instagram: @costraspank
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Cold Times
10 years ago, no one wanted to play hardcore in Puerto Rico outside of “legacy bands." Cold Times stood by their guns with their Clevo-meets-New York hardcore sound and helped the scene get back on its feet.
A decade later, they are becoming the face of Puerto Rico Hardcore by showcasing what Borikén has to offer to the world. Cold Times is hard, heavy, and will make you stomp your feet with some of the chunkiest riffing Puerto Rico has to offer.
Standout tracks: "Born Rejected," "Counterfeit," Unfortunate Outcome"
Instagram: @coldtimesprhc
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Ratas
Ratas is a punch in the face to the more conservative leanings of Puerto Rican society. One of the best bands from the current wave of Puerto Rican Punk and one of the few openly queer bands in the history of Puerto Rican underground music,
Ratas is unapologetic in their sound and their message. Just a quick listen to their borderline emo-fueled pop punk is enough to make the most jaded music fans sing along and jump off the nearest stage monitor.
Standout tracks: "Divina," "Todo Pierde Su Color, "Calle Arecibo"
Instagram: @somosrataspr
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Out of Hand
This Puerto Rican three-piece holds no punches when it comes to delivering savage riffs. They have been consistently releasing material ever since their inception, each time becoming faster, harder, and way more pissed off. Out of Hand just wants to crush you with their unholy union of grindcore, crossover, and Swedish death metal.
Standout tracks: "Inertia Complex," "Dead From The Neck Up," "Petrification"
Instagram: @outofhandpr
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Montalva
Montalva is a two-piece from the West side of Puerto Rico that has been making waves recently in the Puerto Rican scene. They can be complex, subtle, pompous, and downright noisy in the same song and they make it flow seamlessly.
While their core seems to be emo, there are elements from hardcore, black metal, indie, shoegaze, and math rock that make this one of the most unique bands in a scene full of Jet clones.
Standout tracks: "Gest," "Condado 1978," "Puerto Ferro"
Instagram: @Montalvapr
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Frenzy
Frenzy is a metallic hardcore band that features several members from the new wave of Puerto Rican metal and hardcore bands doing what they do best: making you spin-kick anything that moves.
Over-the-top heavy riffs that seem like a blend between death metal, beatdown, and nu-metal groove with some of the most pissed-off vocals you can find right now in Latin American hardcore. Give it time before they become the next big thing in Puerto Rico.
Standout tracks: "Erase Your Face," "Drowning In Copper"
Instagram: @frenzy.00720
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Burning Worlds
Burning Words might not be reinventing the wheel but they’re doing their best to keep the spirit of heavy hardcore alive. Heavy, mid-tempo hardcore with a huge emphasis on the most traditional elements of '90s hardcore. What else do you want?
Standout tracks: "El Camino," "Bajo Tu Sombra," "Self-Titled Intro"
Instagram: @burningwords_prhc
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Gangrensia
Gangrenesia is a new death metal band with a very close relationship with the Puerto Rican hardcore scene. Their D.I.Y. ethic along with their slam-heavy riffs is starting to get attention from people outside the metal circle. Rough around the edges, brutal, and extremely angry death metal to satisfy your caveman urges.
Standout tracks: "Pornographic Tendencies," "Kusanagi Stabwound," "Chunky Guts"
Instagram: @Gangrenesia
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Martyr's Tongue
Holy Terror from Puerto Rico. Martyr’s Tongue juxtaposes hardcore, grindcore, power violence, d-beat, and black metal to spread their gospel of self-loathing, arcane spirituality, and the extermination of the human species. They are bleak, frantic, and unpredictable on and off-stage.
Standout tracks: "Unholy Communion," "Everyday Atrocities," "Dakini"
Instagram: @martyrstongue
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Tagged: martyr's tongue, scene report
