Montevideo’s underground scene doesn’t get much international attention, but Las Llagas is set to change that with their debut EP, Cuanto tiempo nos queda para oler los eucaliptos?, a raw and emotionally charged blend of blackened hardcore, noise, and neocrust.
The band, formed by longtime friends from Uruguay’s DIY scene, originally leaned toward a post-punk sound, but it wasn’t long before they found themselves drawn to something heavier—downtuned guitars, double-kick drums, and an overall darker, sludgier atmosphere.
Today, ahead of its official release on March 5, we’re hosting the full premiere of Cuanto tiempo nos queda para oler los eucaliptos?. It’s aching and raw, deeply torn yet fierce, a sound that burns with intensity, from which an unexpected beauty emerges.
The album will be released on cassette through multiple underground labels worldwide, including Fiadh Productions (USA), El Octavo (Uruguay), 1a0 (Italy), and Slow Down Records (Norway).
Montevideo’s underground community is small but deeply interconnected.
“This is a small country, a small city, and an even smaller underground movement,” says guitarist and vocalist Naz (idolatrax). “The good part is that we cross-pollinate with different music genres and art movements.”
Bands like Asado Crudo, Dejardesentir, Motorhome, Espantajo, Trovador Eléctrico, Neamwave, and Hato-mo are among those keeping the scene alive. Venues like Ensayo Abierto, Ducon, and Andrómeda offer a rare space where bands can play freely, without the usual financial barriers.
Las Llagas formed through this scene, with members playing together in different projects for over 15 years. Originally, they aimed for a more groove-driven post-punk sound in the vein of Viagra Boys, but after some lineup shifts and improvisations, their music took on a sharper edge. “We started jamming, and we saw ourselves leaning more toward noisecore and black metal riffs,” Naz explains.
Recorded on April 7, 2024, by Juan Branaa, mixed by Hiram Miranda, and mastered by Ulf Blomberg, Cuanto tiempo nos queda para oler los eucaliptos? captures the band’s evolution in real time. It’s a record born out of frustration, urgency, and existential dread, reflected both in the music and the lyrical themes.
Track-by-Track Breakdown:
“8000000000” – A direct reference to Chris Korda and the Church of Euthanasia. The track grapples with overpopulation and environmental collapse.
“Peso Muerto” – A reflection on generational trauma, the weight of family history, and the hope of breaking free through self-awareness.
“Micelio” – A meditation on nature’s interconnectedness, using the image of mycelium consuming the dead and turning it into new life.
“Discordia” – A noisy electronic piece that disrupts the flow of the record—a point of contention within the band but one that adds a moment of tension before the final track.
“Eucaliptos” – Inspired by a fleeting moment of beauty. “I was riding my bike and passed by a eucalyptus tree. I enjoyed it so much it made me value life and its fragility,” Naz recalls. This realization gave the EP its title.
The album’s cover, designed by drummer Emiliano and producer Hiram, features an abstract representation of an eucalyptus tree. “It has a cliché neocrust look,” Naz admits, “but it works with the glittery cassette tape.”
Las Llagas already has plans beyond this debut. They’re working on new material for an upcoming compilation and are eager to play more shows, both locally and beyond. Argentina’s underground scene looms large in their future plans.
For now, Cuanto tiempo nos queda para oler los eucaliptos? is a first statement—a document of a band finding its identity in real-time, absorbing influences from Gillian Carter, Lagrimas, Havok, XmostomaltaX, and Fall of Efrafa, and channeling them into something uniquely their own.
Stream the full EP now ahead of its official release on March 5.
