The Demo Review:
Band Name: Junta
Demo Title: Junta
Band Members: Ian McCartney - guitar/bass; Chris Paris - guitar/bass; Mike O'Quendo - drums; Alex Reiter - vocals

Rating: 3 Skulls

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    • Goatwhore's Review:
    Junta! What the fuck is a Junta? Bingo! Jenga! Mockery aside, I actually think Junta is a rather cool sounding moniker. But you're certainly not reading this to find out that the world is filled with yet one more jackass metal pundit, so I'll get on with the music.

    Junta is essentially a straightforward, aggressive metal band with death metal leanings. I'm talking about the kind of band that veers away from the death metal style riffs, yet the vocals are somewhere in between Phil Anselmo and your typical death grunts (the sparse use of melodic vocals should be eliminated, because, well, this guy can't sing). Additionally, as you may expect, there are thrash metal and traditional metal influences supported by a back bone of double bass mayhem that rarely shifts gears into blast beat overdrive.

    While this approach is far, far, far from original, when played with conviction, it's always enjoyable for...well, at least a few listening sessions. Junta probably won't be making its rounds in my CD selection past the next few weeks, but that is not to say that this band is a waste of your time or money.

    Overall, the production and mixing is sound, but I'd have to say that there could be more punch to the snare. And speaking of the drums, the sound of the drilling double bass is captured magnificently.

    Junta needs to capitalize on its melodic, 80s influenced riffing. And rather than leaning on them almost exclusively in the solos, I'm sure that they (and you, the reader) would be surprised at how powerful that element would be when carried into the entirety and basis of the songs.

    The elements within this disc conjure predictable and familiar sounds, yet they are composed without the idol-worshipping obsession that is characteristic of most bands of this ilk.
    3 out of 5

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