O.X. Pow

OX Pow were a Spanish rock band from Madrid active mainly between 1982 and 1987. They came out of the early 80s underground scene and are usually linked to punk, although the band themselves didn’t really like being boxed into that label. They preferred to say they played strong, fast rock, which honestly fits pretty well. Their early stuff leaned heavily toward punk and hardcore, while later recordings showed a bit more new wave influence.

 
The band was formed by a group of friends who were mostly around 18 years old when they started. The lineup was Paul on vocals and guitar, Pedro on guitar and backing vocals, Andrés on bass, and Geli on drums. Geli later became notable as one of the women who were actively involved in the Spanish punk scene, which wasn’t very common at the time.

 
OX Pow played all sorts of underground and sometimes strange venues around Madrid, fully embracing that DIY punk attitude. Musically, they were often compared to bands like Ramones, The Clash, The Damned, or Lords of the New Church, thanks to their fast tempos, sharp guitars, and raw energy. Even though they were around during the Movida Madrileña years, they were much closer to the harder punk underground than to the pop side of that movement.

 
Their recorded output was small but memorable. Early on they released a flexi-disc shared with Derribos Arias and later put out their first EP in 1983, which became their most well-known release. In the mid-80s they released another EP and a mini-LP that showed some evolution in their sound. There were also live recordings circulating among fans, mostly as bootlegs, capturing how intense they were on stage.

 
OX Pow broke up quietly in 1987 without ever becoming a mainstream band. Over time, their early records turned into collector’s items, and later reissues helped introduce them to new listeners. Today they’re remembered as an underrated band from Spain’s early punk scene, especially appreciated by people digging into the less obvious, more underground side of 80s Spanish rock.