Banda De La Muerte - Pulso De Una Mente Maldita
Having already featured Banda De La Muerte a while back, Vania was good enough to send me through a copy of their latest album, Pulso De Una Mente Maldita’, due for release at the end of March, to check out. Now, I liked the last stuff I heard from these guys, so how does the new stuff measure up?
From the opening riffs of Te Estais Dejando Mentir it’s clear that these guys have got a clear mission with this album – world domination. The sound is more advanced and more technical than on the last album, still keeping the sound firmly placed on the raw edge of things and keeping sludgy riffs the basis, but sounding more experienced than before! Parte de mi Historia is further testament to this, opening with a powerful beat and hammering guitar line designed to get you moving and involved in every second of it. Throwing down with choruses which are going to get crowds chanting along, and guitar lines which are going to get some serious air guitar shapes being thrown out, this is a band who have developed their sound and are out to get a serious fan base.
El Miedo is a serious highpoint on the album, opening with an anguished lead line over a hammering riff before throwing down into one of the heaviest breaks I’ve come across in recent times, this track seems to draw on all of the power from the band and create a sound which is full of raw power, energy and all out aggression. This track is verging on the anthemic and is sure to get live crowds involved, you just want to witness this live so you can fully appreciate the power coming off of the stage from these guys (April baby…..oh yeah!). Tiempo Muerto almost comes as a shock after the power of the previous tracks, opening slower and more acoustic than before and verging on the emotional, it’s a slow moment initially but soon returns to the all out power once again. This track is quite possibly my personal favourite off of the album, there’s just something about it which elevates the track to new heights, turning this into a must hear moment on the album.
El Sol Salioi Del Sur follows on, almost feeding straight out of the power of the previous track but this time launching into a thrash style track full of roaring guitar lines and hammering drums. If you want to see evidence that the South American metal scene is still alive and well then you only need to hear this track, it’s a triumph and the sort of track which is going to get these guys some serious attention whilst they’re over on these shores. Espiiritu en Paz comes next, and whilst slower than the previous track, still packs one hell of a punch! Opening with a sludgy guitar line before adding in the soaring vocal line to elevate the track further, this is a track which is going to once again stand out from the album as a moment which you need to hear. Hammering drumming backs up roaring guitar lines and spat vocals, forming a mix which is going to draw you in and force you to listen to every single second of the track. Leading into En Contra Del Destino, the theme continues very much along the lines of ‘create a track which is going to pull your attention in and force you to listen’. Layered vocals, distorted guitars and bass fuelled rhythm backing, this track secures further this bands ability to create a sound which is going to mark a serious moment in music, and make these guys a serious force to be reckoned with.
Hombre Muerto Caminando comes up to follow on and straight away gets your rib cage pulsating, opening with a heavy bass line before kicking into another adrenaline fuelled track full of hammering guitar lines and powerful drumming, creating a mix which is sure to get live crowds encircling the stage. It’s all too soon though before Pulso De Una Mente Maldita is upon us to close the album, once again coming as somewhat of a shock as it opens softly and forms a track which seems a far cry from the all out power of the previous tracks. Soft, acoustic and emotional, this closing moment is one which is going to leave a serious mark in your conscious, causing you to remember the album as a whole rather than just the occasional track from it. Bringing in the power midway through, this track holds the distortion of previous tracks, but combines it with serious melody and hooks which will leave you breathless, as a closer, this does the job perfectly.
I’ve like Banda De La Muerte since I first heard them, and am hopefully heading up to see them in April when they’re over on these shores with Cultura Tres, but this album is a whole new spectrum for the band. Before, they were a solid metal band, now, they’re a masterpiece in the waiting. Sure, the vocals are in Spanish so I can’t understand them, but it doesn’t matter on this album as the music seems to do all of the talking. If you want an album which will motivate you, make your day seem bright and keep you engaged, then this is it – and I can’t wait to see how they perform it live.
From the opening riffs of Te Estais Dejando Mentir it’s clear that these guys have got a clear mission with this album – world domination. The sound is more advanced and more technical than on the last album, still keeping the sound firmly placed on the raw edge of things and keeping sludgy riffs the basis, but sounding more experienced than before! Parte de mi Historia is further testament to this, opening with a powerful beat and hammering guitar line designed to get you moving and involved in every second of it. Throwing down with choruses which are going to get crowds chanting along, and guitar lines which are going to get some serious air guitar shapes being thrown out, this is a band who have developed their sound and are out to get a serious fan base.
El Miedo is a serious highpoint on the album, opening with an anguished lead line over a hammering riff before throwing down into one of the heaviest breaks I’ve come across in recent times, this track seems to draw on all of the power from the band and create a sound which is full of raw power, energy and all out aggression. This track is verging on the anthemic and is sure to get live crowds involved, you just want to witness this live so you can fully appreciate the power coming off of the stage from these guys (April baby…..oh yeah!). Tiempo Muerto almost comes as a shock after the power of the previous tracks, opening slower and more acoustic than before and verging on the emotional, it’s a slow moment initially but soon returns to the all out power once again. This track is quite possibly my personal favourite off of the album, there’s just something about it which elevates the track to new heights, turning this into a must hear moment on the album.
El Sol Salioi Del Sur follows on, almost feeding straight out of the power of the previous track but this time launching into a thrash style track full of roaring guitar lines and hammering drums. If you want to see evidence that the South American metal scene is still alive and well then you only need to hear this track, it’s a triumph and the sort of track which is going to get these guys some serious attention whilst they’re over on these shores. Espiiritu en Paz comes next, and whilst slower than the previous track, still packs one hell of a punch! Opening with a sludgy guitar line before adding in the soaring vocal line to elevate the track further, this is a track which is going to once again stand out from the album as a moment which you need to hear. Hammering drumming backs up roaring guitar lines and spat vocals, forming a mix which is going to draw you in and force you to listen to every single second of the track. Leading into En Contra Del Destino, the theme continues very much along the lines of ‘create a track which is going to pull your attention in and force you to listen’. Layered vocals, distorted guitars and bass fuelled rhythm backing, this track secures further this bands ability to create a sound which is going to mark a serious moment in music, and make these guys a serious force to be reckoned with.
Hombre Muerto Caminando comes up to follow on and straight away gets your rib cage pulsating, opening with a heavy bass line before kicking into another adrenaline fuelled track full of hammering guitar lines and powerful drumming, creating a mix which is sure to get live crowds encircling the stage. It’s all too soon though before Pulso De Una Mente Maldita is upon us to close the album, once again coming as somewhat of a shock as it opens softly and forms a track which seems a far cry from the all out power of the previous tracks. Soft, acoustic and emotional, this closing moment is one which is going to leave a serious mark in your conscious, causing you to remember the album as a whole rather than just the occasional track from it. Bringing in the power midway through, this track holds the distortion of previous tracks, but combines it with serious melody and hooks which will leave you breathless, as a closer, this does the job perfectly.
I’ve like Banda De La Muerte since I first heard them, and am hopefully heading up to see them in April when they’re over on these shores with Cultura Tres, but this album is a whole new spectrum for the band. Before, they were a solid metal band, now, they’re a masterpiece in the waiting. Sure, the vocals are in Spanish so I can’t understand them, but it doesn’t matter on this album as the music seems to do all of the talking. If you want an album which will motivate you, make your day seem bright and keep you engaged, then this is it – and I can’t wait to see how they perform it live.
Banda De La Muerte
To Argentina now for a band they call Banda De La Muerte, a 4 piece band emerging from the Buenos Aire’s stoner and metal underground scene. Influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, the Melvins and Black Flag, the bands sound combines stoner and doom outlooks with hard-core punk nervousness and sludge music’s asphyxia. We’ve got a copy of their 2009 self titled record so figured it was about time I check them out!
Opening with Dos Huesos everything is immediately sludgy, dark and deep, sexual sound effects taking the backing lead before launching into a sludgy mix of hammering guitar riffs, pounding drums and solid bass rhythms. What’s quite striking is the melody going on despite the raw power, awesome stuff! Spanish vocals hammer out at you, sticking to the beat of the track but almost being spat out at you throughout, their gravelly tone drawing the track further out and giving it even more of that accessible edge. Hesperidina soon follows on though and seems to pick up the lead exactly where the last left off, once again keeping everything sludgy and dark to really accentuate the sheer power of everything going on. My one issue here is the language barrier as I’ve not got any idea what the lyrics are about, but musically this is a winning combination. Catchy and powerful, this is the sort of track you can well imagine coming out of the underground scene, it’s got that raw sound which is so often lost through production.
De La Muerte comes up next, opening much softer at first which comes as a bit of a shock, before once again launching head first into a mix of heavy assed guitars and drumming. The vocals usher in a new section of the track, almost contrasting against the other elements to create this sort of monster of a track, one which you can’t help but be pulled into, one that, despite the language barrier, will connect with your soul. Esqueleto almost seems to come in to back up this statement, once again opening dark but much softer, a nod to their inspiration from Black Sabbath here for sure. The soft ominous opening soon builds the track into one which is going to haunt you, building into a surprisingly upbeat track and almost leaving behind those dark beginnings. There’s something insanely catchy about the melody which this track adopts, I can’t put my finger on it but this is one which regardless of the lyrics, you’re going to want to witness on the live scene. Los Ojos Del Diablo soon confirms your thoughts and launches you into a bass heavy mix of guitar lines, hammering drums and distorted vocal lines, the whole mix once again coming together to form something which is going to keep you awake at night. The darkness of this track is striking as you listen to it, there’s that raw anguish running through the music which you want to hear more of, even though you begin to question whether you should or not.
Madera Sagrada is a whole new kettle of fish, launching into what can only be described as a hard core meets punk moment of sheer aggression! Fast, hammering drums, far guitar lines and spat vocals lead you through this track and leave you questioning how the hell they could possibly recreate something like this on the live scene. If you’ve ever wondered what sort of music is most likely to get people moving on a live scene, listen to this and you’ve got your answer. It’s a bit of a shock then when Cuando No Hay Mas Que Perder comes into being with its much more solid drumming and conventional guitar lines, the track almost coming across as soft as it begins after the sheer power that was the previous track. Again, due to the language barrier I can’t comment on the lyric content, but this is another track which works on a musical level anyway, and one which I would count amongst the highlights of the album as a whole, so be sure to check it out!
A Traves De La Sangre finishes the album off and does it in style, once again nodding towards their peers from the days of classic metal and crafting a track which is slow, distorted and heavy. Powerful from the outset, this comes as the perfect ending to what’s been one hell of a rollercoaster of an album. The sheer power and emotion which comes off of this track leaves you with the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and your finger reaching for that rewind button, another highlight on the album for sure!
It’s hard when a band such as Banda De La Muerte comes in as I can’t comment on the lyrical content of the band, something which quite often can prove to be really quite important over all. What I can tell you about this album though is that it’s managed to harness all of the power you would expect from a South American metal band, yet added in some hardcore elements, and some punk and crafted something which doesn’t follow convention, doesn’t stick to expectations and doesn’t do what it says on the tin, it makes up its own path and drags you along for the ride – your job – just sit back and enjoy!
To find out more about Banda De La Muerte, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Opening with Dos Huesos everything is immediately sludgy, dark and deep, sexual sound effects taking the backing lead before launching into a sludgy mix of hammering guitar riffs, pounding drums and solid bass rhythms. What’s quite striking is the melody going on despite the raw power, awesome stuff! Spanish vocals hammer out at you, sticking to the beat of the track but almost being spat out at you throughout, their gravelly tone drawing the track further out and giving it even more of that accessible edge. Hesperidina soon follows on though and seems to pick up the lead exactly where the last left off, once again keeping everything sludgy and dark to really accentuate the sheer power of everything going on. My one issue here is the language barrier as I’ve not got any idea what the lyrics are about, but musically this is a winning combination. Catchy and powerful, this is the sort of track you can well imagine coming out of the underground scene, it’s got that raw sound which is so often lost through production.
De La Muerte comes up next, opening much softer at first which comes as a bit of a shock, before once again launching head first into a mix of heavy assed guitars and drumming. The vocals usher in a new section of the track, almost contrasting against the other elements to create this sort of monster of a track, one which you can’t help but be pulled into, one that, despite the language barrier, will connect with your soul. Esqueleto almost seems to come in to back up this statement, once again opening dark but much softer, a nod to their inspiration from Black Sabbath here for sure. The soft ominous opening soon builds the track into one which is going to haunt you, building into a surprisingly upbeat track and almost leaving behind those dark beginnings. There’s something insanely catchy about the melody which this track adopts, I can’t put my finger on it but this is one which regardless of the lyrics, you’re going to want to witness on the live scene. Los Ojos Del Diablo soon confirms your thoughts and launches you into a bass heavy mix of guitar lines, hammering drums and distorted vocal lines, the whole mix once again coming together to form something which is going to keep you awake at night. The darkness of this track is striking as you listen to it, there’s that raw anguish running through the music which you want to hear more of, even though you begin to question whether you should or not.
Madera Sagrada is a whole new kettle of fish, launching into what can only be described as a hard core meets punk moment of sheer aggression! Fast, hammering drums, far guitar lines and spat vocals lead you through this track and leave you questioning how the hell they could possibly recreate something like this on the live scene. If you’ve ever wondered what sort of music is most likely to get people moving on a live scene, listen to this and you’ve got your answer. It’s a bit of a shock then when Cuando No Hay Mas Que Perder comes into being with its much more solid drumming and conventional guitar lines, the track almost coming across as soft as it begins after the sheer power that was the previous track. Again, due to the language barrier I can’t comment on the lyric content, but this is another track which works on a musical level anyway, and one which I would count amongst the highlights of the album as a whole, so be sure to check it out!
A Traves De La Sangre finishes the album off and does it in style, once again nodding towards their peers from the days of classic metal and crafting a track which is slow, distorted and heavy. Powerful from the outset, this comes as the perfect ending to what’s been one hell of a rollercoaster of an album. The sheer power and emotion which comes off of this track leaves you with the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and your finger reaching for that rewind button, another highlight on the album for sure!
It’s hard when a band such as Banda De La Muerte comes in as I can’t comment on the lyrical content of the band, something which quite often can prove to be really quite important over all. What I can tell you about this album though is that it’s managed to harness all of the power you would expect from a South American metal band, yet added in some hardcore elements, and some punk and crafted something which doesn’t follow convention, doesn’t stick to expectations and doesn’t do what it says on the tin, it makes up its own path and drags you along for the ride – your job – just sit back and enjoy!
To find out more about Banda De La Muerte, check out their Facebook page HERE.