Artist: Brujeria
Label: Roadrunner
Release Date: 11/7/00
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Title: Brujerizmo Artist: Brujeria Label: Roadrunner Release Date: 11/7/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
Well here we go, the return of the “secret” band. Everyone seems to know who’s in this band, but I’m not dumb enough to list them here. “Rumored to feature members of Fear Factory, Faith No More, Napalm Death, Cradle of Filth, and Dimmu Borgir” is advertised right on the cover, confirming that it is becoming more and more the gimmick, but hell, I ain’t really tired of it yet.
"Slower, groove-oriented riffs that border on that of nu-metal predominate this album." I’ve lost touch with this band, my last experience with them was with 1995’s Raza Odiada, and I’m sure they’ve done something since then. There has definitely been some evolution in this band, considering they were straight-laced, no nonesense, barely produced Death. It seems the years have mellowed the band, even if it’s just slightly.
Their new disc is heading the direction of newer Six Feet Under. Slower, groove-oriented riffs that border on that of nu-metal predominate this album, but unfortunately, it just doesn’t have the punch that Six Feet Under have. It does seem like a conscious effort to bring this band to a wider audience, a far cry from their (seeming) contentness with being the epitome of the underground band.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that, and I don’t mean it to sound like I’m crying sellout, because I’m not. I just don’t really dig this album that much. The album does have its moments. There are some cool riffs on here, but there are more riffs o’ filler, and every once in a while there is a cool tempo change that piques my curiosity, but more often than not my curiosity doesn’t remain piqued. “Laboratorio Cristalitos” is one of the better songs on the album, but it’s pretty easy to stand out on this album. The lyrics are deep and political, making me quiver with emotion every time I hear them. Or at least that’s what I assume they’re like because I don’t speak a lick of Spanish.
"A boring album at worst, but just mediocre at best." So that’s about the size of it. A boring album at worst, but just mediocre at best. You won’t hate yourself for buying it, but if you don’t, you aren’t missing anything.
Death's Review:
Yo no comprendo que etse junto del capitanes de las drogas de mexicano quiere... ah, fuck it. Enough with that nonsense. As you can see, I don't speak (or write) Spanish. I don't even fake it well, at least not off the top of my head. What I was trying to say is that I don't understand why this purported band of Mexican drug lords would want to get together to produce a mediocre, mildly extreme version of Fear Factory without the keyboards and electronic elements and without Burton C. Bell. It's too easy to just tell them to stick to their day jobs, no matter how risky they may be. Sure, sometimes it seems that there are just far too many good pictures of half-decayed, rotted or blown-to-bits faces and/or corpses in need of albums to be covers of to ever completely deny a band such as this. But c'mon, admit it. Brujeria, at least in 2000, are for the most part nothing better than boring and uninspired. The riffs are sometimes cool (rumor has it there's a pretty easy explanation why they sound like Fear Factory), and heck - here is a metal project rumored to involve former Faith No More bassist Billy Gould. That's admittedly worth something. But the songs do nothing for me, and I can't understand the lyrics. The music is extreme enough not to be nu-metal but the tempos and some of the guitar riffs come dangerously close. I guess it is cool that Roadrunner is still generating some isolated product primarily targeted to the underground metal fan. But this one doesn't do a lot for me, and it is borderline forgettable. Metal's collective resources could be better spent in so many other ways.
"Why would this purported band of Mexican drug lords want to get together to produce a mediocre, mildly extreme version of Fear Factory without the keyboards and electronic elements and without Burton C. Bell?"
Hel's Review:
The very first thing that jumps out at you with this album is the sticker on the front that reads: "The new album - Rumored to feature members of Fear Factory, Faith No More, Napalm Death, Cradle of Filth, & Dimmu Borgir." This leads me to dwell for a moment on the nature of their record label. By virtue of Brujeria being on Roadrunner, I'm instinctively distrustful, looking for the tell-tale signs of that hideous nu-metalness. Which leads me to wonder sometimes if simply worrying about it doesn't actually make you hear it, like a psychological effect...
"While it's a fun and interesting listen, I can't capture any cohesiveness overall, which leaves the whole disjointed and erratic." Considering most of the "rumored" bands listed on the sticker are European or American based, you may have not guessed, most of the lyrics are in Spanish. The vocals are heavily growled, with what is either in a death metal style, or maybe it's a heavy accent accentuated by passion... Since I don't speak Spanish, I can't help but feel like I'm missing the big picture. In general, the drums feature nice rapid double bass pounding with some Latin influenced rhythms appearing on occasion. The guitars and bass do have some of that low end, mechanical tone so often associated with Road Runner bands, but it is not so prevalent as to label the entire album as such.
Trying to pigeon hole this one would prove to be difficult. "Anti-Castro" has an almost Suicidal Tendencies feel; while "Cuiden A Los Ninos" contains at times, rhythms and guitar tones reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine, yet the next moment, riffs that are straightforward Slayer-esque thrash emerge. "El Bajore" might help convince you there may be black metallers involved, at least for a second... "Division Del Norte" sounds like it belongs in a horror movie, which is certainly not a bad thing, generally metal speaking
While it's a fun and interesting listen, I can't capture any cohesiveness overall, which leaves the whole disjointed and erratic. Maybe my enjoyment is lessened because of the language barrier and I really am missing out as a result. Coupled with my Roadrunner distrust, I just can't wholly buy in, moreover, I suspect I'm extremely overloaded from a lot of amazing releases lately, and it would take a true bombshell of an album to make an impression on me right now.
"The final straw is, I'm afraid, this manufactured mystique about who's in the band." The final straw is, I'm afraid, this manufactured mystique about who's in the band. Sure I write under a pseudonym, but I'm nobody no matter what name you call me by, so it really makes no difference. If you're nobody, you shouldn't be afraid to admit it, and if you're famous, don't hint around acting all mysterious while making it a major selling point, referring to it all the time, and manufacturing mystique. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
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