Legendary Finnish punk band Lama's debut album reissued in September
The outstanding self titled debut album by Lama will be reissued the second time around by Svart Records in September 2025.
Lama, established in Helsinki back in 1977, is one of the best known Finnish hardcore punk bands, and was one of the first bands to push the punk sound of the 70's into the hardcore sound of the 80's. While other Finnish punk bands like Terveet Kädet and Rattus became better known outside of Finland, Lama has always been one of the foremost hardcore punk bands, if not THE foremost hardcore punk band, inside Finland. One of the main reasons for Lama's lack of popularity outside Finland is that they emerged comparatively early and their records went out of print quickly, were not exported, and of course no one ever sells their original copies. Now, 14 years after Svart's previous vinyl reissue, this highly influential record from 1982 will finally be available on wax again, as it should be.
"Another excellent punk album from Finland. As we’ve already indicated, LAMA aren’t one of the young thrash bands, but an older-style punk group that started in ’78-’79. But that doesn’t mean that they sound like today’s boring English clone groups. They have musical muscle, songs with great dynamics, tightness, and they play pretty damn fast for a bunch of old-timers. Their new thrashed-out version of “Tavastia" is a classic, the high point of this LP. Rumors has that they’re breaking up. What a shame!" -Jeff Bale, Maximum Rocknroll magazine #4, January/February 1983
Lama broke up in 1983, but got back together a decade later for a reunion show at Tavastia, Helsinki in 1993, where the Tavastia live album was recorded and later released in 2007. After that the band has played several festivals and clubs in Finland, released the Apuri-EP in 2013, and toured Brazil. Svart Records is also releasing Lama's early singles on a 7" box set in August.