Album Review

Union 13- East Los Presents

Union 13 is a Latino Hardcore Punk band from East Los Angeles, California. This album was released by Epitaph Records in 1997. Union 13 play very fast and heavy Hardcore Punk with several songs sung in Spanish. They do have some melody in their music as shown by a song that reminds me of The Clash from London, England. The rabid vocals really give the music a powerful delivery and the eerie guitars kick it up a notch making for a great track. The chorus in the vocals remind me of 7 Seconds from Reno, Nevada. I really like the Spanish songs because they give off a completely different energy and this record has around five songs that are sung in Spanish. The drummer plays with total disregard for his safety because it sounds like he is bashing his drums to bits. The guitars are played at full speed and have a nice raw sound to them. This song sounds like a classic Punk Rock song. This sounds simple but it really is just a perfect track. The speed of the album reminds me of Minor Threat from Washington, D.C. because Union 13 is almost as fast as Minor Threat was when they were around. I think that Edward's vocals are the highlight of this record because he screams with such anger and rage that can only come from growing up in such a rough place as East Los Angeles, California. Being a social outcast in the United States because of your race must be an impossible struggle but I think that Edward found solace in the Hardcore Punk scene that he also grew up in. I also get the feeling from some songs on this album that Union 13 listen to bands like Rancid and Bad Religion. This is an amazing record where everything has to go right to call it a classic and it does. Are you a big fan of 7 Seconds or Minor Threat? Then you will be a huge fan of Union 13. Make sure to get your paws on this one. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
Kevin