Image: Sammy RizzoSuggesting a heavy blow or an influence of power, clout is a good name for a hardcore punk band. Klout is even better. Hailing from South Florida, Klout play a strong 80s hardcore style mixed with the gruff antagonistic vibe of 86 Mentality and Boston Strangler. Things get aggro.The four-piece have just released a five-song demo cassette on Not For You, a new label co-run by the band’s vocalist Mario Escoto.Escoto, who also plays in an all Latino hardcore band Ladrón, has that perfect hardcore vocalist surliness, a kind of a growl that comes with a scowl.Stream it below and read a short interview with Mario.Noisey: Florida has a history of producing dark and twisted hardcore. Where do you fit in?
Mario Escoto: If we're talking about the past, that is definitely true. In terms of "crazier sounding" aggressive music, Florida was definitely a hot spot for that. Tampa was the death metal capital, screamo/emoviolence was a prominent thing in Gainesville, and metalcore was big in Miami. Hardcore has always been important in South Florida though, but if we're speaking about recent history, we have really flourished and built strong hardcore and punk scenes within the last five or six years.You have a song called “Yuppie Genocide”. Are there many yuppies in South Florida?
There’s a ton, but to be honest, they are invading punk/hardcore everywhere. Not everyone is a pissed off outcast looking for their place anymore. There are a lot of scene tourists just in it for the social aspect. If that's your thing, then fine, but don't act like you can comment/cast judgments on the scene if you're not contributing or making any effort to change things. “We Don’t Need You”. Who is ‘we’ and who is ‘you’?
'We' refers to all of us basically; all of the people who care about hardcore and care about the way things are. The people who start bands, book shows, make zines, or even just come out to every show and support all the bands. 'You' refers to old, jaded losers who have long overstayed their welcome.
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Mario Escoto: If we're talking about the past, that is definitely true. In terms of "crazier sounding" aggressive music, Florida was definitely a hot spot for that. Tampa was the death metal capital, screamo/emoviolence was a prominent thing in Gainesville, and metalcore was big in Miami. Hardcore has always been important in South Florida though, but if we're speaking about recent history, we have really flourished and built strong hardcore and punk scenes within the last five or six years.You have a song called “Yuppie Genocide”. Are there many yuppies in South Florida?
There’s a ton, but to be honest, they are invading punk/hardcore everywhere. Not everyone is a pissed off outcast looking for their place anymore. There are a lot of scene tourists just in it for the social aspect. If that's your thing, then fine, but don't act like you can comment/cast judgments on the scene if you're not contributing or making any effort to change things. “We Don’t Need You”. Who is ‘we’ and who is ‘you’?
'We' refers to all of us basically; all of the people who care about hardcore and care about the way things are. The people who start bands, book shows, make zines, or even just come out to every show and support all the bands. 'You' refers to old, jaded losers who have long overstayed their welcome.
The Klout tape is available now through Not For You.