Madrid Punks bring us more frenetic Rock'n'roll on their second release!
Providing a template that has been an inspiration for a myriad of Punk bands; “I like short songs” shouted Jello Biafra on the imaginatively titled ‘Short Songs’ back in 1979. Spanish band Plastic Meat (who released their first four songs on cassette tape in September 2025) are indeed fine exponents of the short, fast, loud form of music, and their latest release, a six-song E.P called ‘Losing It’, spans all of 10 minutes.
The band describe their style as “frenetic Punk loaded with high doses of Rock’n’roll in a formula which includes 1977’s vibes revisited with the high-energy sound of the current Aussie scene.”
It can be easy to dismiss short songs as lazy or half formed, that is not the case with Plastic Meat. The opening track on ‘Losing It’, ‘Burn with me’, shows a knack for melody, and for harmony in the dance between the guitar and bass. There’s a playfulness here, a statement of intent. The rolling bass and drums underpinning the guitar and a strong vocal add further passion. A great way to start.
‘They’ opens with an almost Ska/Punk bass, again backed by a very strong guitar. This one is driven by the vocal, a Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex) display of controlled anger and passion; you can almost feel the strain of a voice pushed close to its limits. The melding of the instruments and singer is a joy, there is a cohesive feeling of unity and purpose.
There’s an old school Rock’n’roll feel to ‘From dusk till dawn’. Again, the guitar and bass are intertwined, contrasting and complementing each over, again the vocal has passion, grabbing your attention. It’s also a song that just sounds like a band that is having a good time, a band taking a moment to make sure they are happy. When a feeling is obviously driving a song it embraces the listener, and that is the feel of this song, bouncy, happy, welcoming a good time.
There’s a Pop punk feel to ‘Choking me’, although it seems to have a founding in a harder, more distant form. Again, there is that bounce, the feeling of a live experience driven by the band’s cohesion. There’s a familiarity to this, though not in a derogatory way. The chorus invites participation, embracing you to interact.
‘Don’t you love me?’ is owned by the guitar – surf style with a hard edge. This would comfortably fit into the canon of East Bay Ray. Spritely, showing good technique and skill, this is another demonstration of how a short song doesn’t need to lack craft or feeling. There are multiple subtle changes running throughout the song, adding depth and character. This gives another level of appreciation to the abilities on display.
‘Losing It’ finishes with ‘Winter’, a track that really shows off the energy and sound of the bassist. It has a very strong feel, pushing the song, the feeling that the strings could shatter at any moment. This is a fine way to close, a statement, a display of energy and power.
10 minutes may not be that long – it may even seem like too short a period of time to get a feel for a band – yet Plastic Meat manage to fill ‘Losing It’ with a multitude of energetic tunes which convey what they are about and showcase a surprising variety and depth of music. This is a band with a lot to offer, and I hope they will offer more soon!
Released via FOLC Records, get your copy of ‘Losing It’ on 7” vinyl from HERE. It’s also available on Digital Download HERE, and streaming HERE.
Catch Plastic Meat live on Saturday, July 11th, where they’ll be presenting their new EP at Fun House music bar, Madrid. Tickets HERE.
- Burn with me
- They
- From dusk till dawn
- Choking me
- Don’t you love me?
- Winter
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Heavily influenced by an older brother, I discovered a love of music at an early age, initially with Punk but eventually with pretty much everything. I play guitar and bass to a very low standard and regularly ‘entertain’ my family and dogs with unwanted noise. I am usually found at the back of both gigs and football matches!
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