The story of the band Corrosão Social is a testament to the persistence and timelessness of the punk spirit in Portugal. It is not just another group playing a musical genre; it is the reawakening of a flame lit decades ago, a scream that refused to be silenced by time. Its singular trajectory crosses the past and present of the Portuguese underground movement.
The genesis of this story dates back to Lisbon in 1988, with Corrosão Caótica, one of the most important formations of the punk/hardcore scene at the time. These young musicians were the voice of social and political revolt, a reflection of the discontent and anxieties of a generation that felt marginalized and critical of the established system in the country.
They were an undeniable name in Lisbon’s underground circuit, sharing rehearsal spaces with other influential bands of the era, such as Atrofiados and Tropa Morta. Their lyrics, charged with social themes and against exploitation, fascism, and daily problems, made them standard-bearers of the national punk/hardcore scene during the years they were active.
However, as happens with many musical projects, the band eventually disintegrated in the mid-90s, giving way to other paths and, temporarily, to silence. Despite the formal end, the essential – the songs and lyrics that translated the social malaise – never lost their relevance, nor the desire of its members to have that material properly recorded.
What makes the story of Corrosão Social so human and captivating is precisely their resilience and the stubbornness in rescuing a legacy. After a considerable hiatus, and through several attempts to reignite the fire over the years, its members finally managed to shape the project of re-recording and releasing the material that had existed since the Corrosão Caótica era.
In 2023, this effort and dedication materialized in the self-titled album “Corrosão Social”. The record, released by Firecum Records, is the result of revisiting the original structures of the tracks, to which new arrangements and the energy of the band’s current lineup, which includes new members, were added.
This album is, therefore, not just a nostalgic tribute to the past. It is a painful proof that the lyrics from over 30 years ago remain brutally current. Upon listening to tracks like “Miséria” (Misery), “Antifa”, or “Impostos” (Taxes), we realize that the criticism of sociopolitical problems and the tyranny of the system remains sadly pertinent, reinforcing the original message.
The message of Corrosão Social is not about being new; it is about being true. It is the sound of inexhaustible frustration, the raw energy of those who refuse to accept the status quo in a world where, paraphrasing their own lyrics, “unfortunately nothing has changed… which has given more meaning to these screams of revolt.”
Today’s band, with its new identity, is the mature and conscious voice that confirms the social failure that was already denounced in its youth, bringing to the present a sound that, in essence, has never aged. It is a reunion of generations, where the fierce energy of punk unites with the life experience of its protagonists.
Corrosão Social represents a vital piece of Portuguese punk rock, showing that, for many, this is not a musical style that one “outgrows,” but rather an ideology carried through life. More than just a band, Corrosão Social is a reminder that social corrosion (corrosão social) is not just their name, but the permanent state of the world around us, and that music can be our best megaphone for revolt.
