Décima Víctima
| Company type | Independent label co-founded by band members |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Lars Mertanen, Per Mertanen, Carlos Entrena |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
| Products | Music recordings (albums, singles, EPs) |
Décima Víctima () was a post-punk ensemble based in Madrid, composed of two Swedish and two Spanish musicians. Their active period spanned from 1981 until 1984, during which they produced two full-length albums, one maxisingle, two EPs, and three singles.
Formation and Beginnings
In 1981, the Swedish siblings Lars and Per Mertanen established the instrumental duo known as Cláusula Tenebrosa. Following a performance, they met Carlos Entrena, former vocalist of the recently dissolved Ejecutivos Agresivos, and the trio began rehearsing together.
That same year, they co-created the independent label Grabaciones Accidentales (GASA) to distribute their own music.
Expansion to a Quartet
By 1982, José Brena joined as drummer, replacing the drum machine and completing the four-member lineup.
Their song Tan Lejos received considerable airplay, earning them the Maqueta de Oro (Golden Demo) award from Radio 3 listeners as one of the standout tracks of 1982.
Although their instrumentation was limited to three instruments plus vocals, their unique sound was enriched both live and in studio recordings by the Mertanen brothers’ distinctive playing approach and sound engineer Paco Trinidad’s expertise.
While primarily performing in Madrid, they also appeared in cities such as Barcelona, Vigo, Valencia, Puertollano, and Molina de Aragón.
Conclusion of the Band
The group disbanded mainly due to members’ external professional obligations rather than any musical or interpersonal conflicts; they maintained close friendships afterwards.
Their last concert took place at Rock-Ola in Madrid on December 3, 1983.
Towards the end of 1983, Décima Víctima recorded a live demo for their second album Un Hombre Solo using a 4-track recorder; the studio album was finalized several months after the band had split.
Discography
- Studio Albums
- 1982: Décima Víctima LP
- 1984: Un Hombre Solo LP
- Maxisingles, EPs, and Singles
- 1982: El Vacío EP
- 1982: Tan Lejos EP
- 1982: Detrás de la Mirada Single
- 1983: Algo en Común Maxisingle
- 1983: Un lugar en el Pasado Single
- 1984: Un Hombre Solo Single
- Compilation Releases
- 1994: Resumen CD
- 2010: Décima Víctima Box Set—features both albums, singles, demos, along with a booklet containing historical information, rare photographs, and lyrics.
Members
- Carlos Entrena – Vocals
- Lars Mertanen – Guitar
- Per Mertanen – Bass
- José Brena – Drums