Barcelona's Punk superstars are as impressive and outspoken as ever in long-awaited new release
European Punk bands have been making waves for a long time, and none more so than Spanish trio The Lizards! With four excellent previous albums, plus countless live shows at multiple venues and festivals under ther belts, the last 19 years have been a whirlwind for them. Returning after a 4 year gap with album #5, ‘Below the Surface‘, it’s heartening to hear that The Lizards have retained all of their trademark fire and fury.
The Lizards‘ strong sound and sing-along melodies are influenced by bands such as Joan Jett, Motörhead, and Misfits. Check out their biggest hit ‘Everybody Sucks‘ (top title!) from 2019 album ‘Inside Your Head‘ – and the rest of the album and their back catalogue too!
The Lizards are:
Carla Santacreu – vocals and guitar
Judith Jordan – bass
Edgar Beltri – drums
Carla creates all of the artwork for the band’s music releases. The Lizards say about ‘Below the Surface‘; “with this title we want to vindicate the authenticity and the search for the essence of things, in today’s world dominated by the superficial and the manipulated.”
The first single released from the album is also its first track; ‘Vicious Circle‘ is “about mental health. It talks about the mental loops generated by anxiety and intrusive thoughts, something that can affect us all today to a greater or lesser extent” explains Carla. It’s a distinctively Lizards song – strident vocals, melodic, rapidly-riffing guitars, and energetic drumming:
The bass-driven ‘Involution‘ takes aim at the state of our society; “Filthy rich concealing their corruption, Real bastards in command”, and loudly calls for a revolution to “Fight for your future”. We heartily agree with every word! Having to deal with someone’s bigoted and unreasonable ‘Free Opinion‘ gets The Lizards‘ treatment next – “You never shut your mouth, Even when you’re fucking wrong”. A prime piece of guitar punk!
Garage rocker ‘Dopamine‘ looks at the insidious nature of the narcissistic ‘influencers’ we’re subjected to on social me-me-media; “You wanna be hailed and so admired, But you’re forgetting, That you’re full of lies, Faking all the time.” The Lizards see what’s below the surface; “That you feel so fucking down, That you feel so bad.” All that glitters isn’t gold… My favourite song on the album, ‘The Older I Get, the More Punk I Am‘ has an epic repeated refrain of “So what? So what? So what?” – one to be shouted out by the crowd at live shows for sure! A punk banger for those of us who are growing old disgracefully 😉
Another very relatable song, ‘The Line‘ is a solid garage number about keeping your boundaries when somebody gives you a fake apology. It’s a powerful song of self-affirmation: “Don’t forget, You’ll only hurt me once, I won’t wait, For another stupid chance.” Even stronger is ‘I Got Enough‘ – a bass-driven banger by someone who’s angry enough “To get rid of, All the bullshit, That wears me out.”
That ‘Killjoy‘ we all know gets a mention too! “Please, save me from his dull vibe, He’s eager to annoy, He comes to ruin a good time, He’s such a killjoy.” Lively guitar drives this superb surf rock number:
I suspect that ‘A Secret‘ may have been written about the fascinating life of WWII spy Nancy Wake, whose autobiography ‘The White Mouse‘ detailed her numerous brave exploits, including helping Allied airmen evade capture by the Germans and escape to neutral Spain. The sense of danger and urgency come across clearly, with superb vocal harmonies from Carla, Judith and Edgar.
The fear of revealing your true feelings is the subject of ‘Like You‘. A slower garage number with a great chorus; “Cause I’m a coward, baby, What can I say? I like you. Cause I’m a coward, baby, So I pretend, Yes, I do.” Final track ‘Get Out‘ has the band back in top punk gear. It’s abaout the rage we feel when subjected to the disgusting fascist views of small-minded people. “What you hate, Everything is so sad and selfish, Anything that I say, You’ll never reflect” and “You proclaim all this crap, With a smile on your face, Disgusting. Here I am like a bomb, I’m about to explode, I think you’d better go!”
An incendiary band to see live (I was blown away by their first ever UK date in London yesterday!), this latest album is another oustanding collection of songs for punks who feel intensely about seeing through society’s bullshit while rocking out!
Catch The Lizards touring ‘Below the Surface‘ this year across Europe:
Listen to ‘Below the Surface‘ HERE, and get your copy on Digital Download HERE. The record has been released on vinyl as a co-edition via the band’s own label Love Me Like A Reptile Records together with the French label Adrenalin Fix Music, the Spanish label Ghost Highway Recordings and the Swedish label Beluga Records – links are directly in the label names.
Main Photo Credit: RICARD SALVATELLA
- Vicious Circle
- Involution
- Free Opinion
- Dopamine
- The Older I Get, the More Punk I Am
- The Line
- I Got Enough
- Killjoy
- A Secret
- Like You
- Get Out
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