Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Austria 05: New punk rock supergroup from Peru
Peruvian punk rockers Austria 05 have shared their first single as a band. The track is called “Tiempo al Tiempo” and you can listen to the song below.
To accompany this first release, Chaoszine sat down to talk with Mario Chirinos, vocalist and guitarist of the Lima-based band, to learn more about this punk rock combo that promises to make a big splash.
Austria 05 is a punk rock supergroup comprising living legends of the Peruvian music scene. Created in 2003 by Mario Chirinos (vocals and second guitar), the project is now back stronger than ever with a stellar line-up that brings together key figures from the national heavy rock and punk scenes.
Ricardo Méndez is on guitars and provides backing vocals. He is also a member of Difonía, one of the most influential and renowned metal bands in the country. On drums is Mauricio ‘Mapache’ Llona, a former member of 6 Voltios — an iconic band and a must-see reference in Peruvian punk — as well as the former drummer of Diazepunk, another seminal act in the genre.
Completing the rhythm section is Emilio Bruce on bass. He is also a former member of 6 Voltios and participated in the albums that marked an era, leading the group to its greatest significance.
With this combination of experience, track record and attitude, Austria 05 offers pure, hard punk rock with guitars at the forefront, maximum energy and melodies made to be sung at the top of your lungs. Their new album, “Ruido en la Memoria” (Noise in Memory), will be released in three instalments, each consisting of four songs, promising a true explosion of rock ‘n’ roll and electric nostalgia.
Vocalist and guitarist Mario Chirinos describes the formation of this band, which unites seasoned musicians from the Peruvian music scene: “Austria 05 was born years ago in Peru, in the early 2000s, as a project I had in school/university, when it was still more of a dream than a formal band. Over time, life took its course, everyone went off to pursue their own projects, and Austria 05 was put on hold, but the idea of reviving it never died“.
“Recently, I felt it was time to revive those songs and write new ones, and that’s when it all really began: I spoke with Ricardo Méndez (Difonía), Mauricio ‘Mapache’ Llona and Emilio Bruce (both formerly of 6 Voltios) and the chemistry was immediate. We realised that we could bring together all the experience of Difonía, 6 Voltios, Diazepunk and the local scene in a single project of direct, honest punk rock with songs that have something to say. Thus, Austria 05 is reborn, but now with a line-up of ‘veterans’ who still have a lot to shout about“, adds the musician.
It is said that punk rock was born in Lima, the capital of Peru, in 1964 with the band Los Saicos, so in a sense, punk rock has always been part of Peruvian music’s DNA. I ask Mario which other national or international bands have influenced them. The frontman explains: “Los Saicos are definitely the starting point in Peru, but we have also been influenced by bands such as Leusemia, 6 Voltios, Diazepunk, Difonía, Inyectores and Aeropajitas, to name a few. They taught us that it was possible to create serious rock and punk music in Peru with our own identity, rather than copying existing formulas“.
Regarding foreign influences, Chirino explains: “Our DNA is heavily influenced by Green Day, Blink-182, The Offspring, Sum 41, NOFX and Rancid, as well as classic and 90s rock. We like melodic punk with guitars at the forefront, but also lyrics about growing up, making mistakes, falling in and out of love, and moving on. Ultimately, Austria 05 is a blend of all these influences, filtered through the lens of having grown up in Peru”.
“Ruido en la Memoria” (Noise in the Memory) is the debut LP from this Lima-based band — an album that is sure to get people talking. The Peruvian musician says of this opus: “‘Ruido en la Memoria’ is our first mastered album (there was a demo in 2003 with different band members) and it is literally that: the noise of our memories. These are songs about adolescence, first loves, grief, friendships, loss, starting over, and accepting that time passes — but that punk energy is still there.”
The singer continues: “The album will be released in three parts, each with four songs, so that people can digest and follow the story chapter by chapter. Musically, it’s pure, hard punk rock: guitars up front, fast drums, very present bass lines and melodies that stick with you. It’s a very honest album, without pretensions, where what you hear is exactly what we are when we plug in the amps and start playing“.
Every new band is eager to hit the road and play as many shows as possible. Austria 05 is no exception. “The initial idea is simple: to play as much as possible. We want to present “Ruido en la Memoria” live, starting in Lima and touring as many cities in Peru as possible. We believe these songs make a lot of sense on a small, sweaty stage, with people singing just a few metres away from the band,” says Mario Chirinos.
“And, of course, we would love to take Austria 05 abroad: Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Finland, etc., wherever a punk and rock scene is willing to listen to us. We all come from bands that have already had some success, so the idea is to take advantage of that experience and those contacts so that Austria 05 can also cross borders. The plan is clear: play, play and play, inside and outside the country“, he concludes.