| CD REVIEW Soziedad Alkoholika |
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Band : Soziedad Alkoholika My introduction to this fine Spanish (Basque region) outfit (consisting of singer Juan, guitarists Jimmy & Javi, bassist Pirulo, and drummer Roberto) came with the 2003 album Tiempos Oscuros,for which a review (now no longer available) was posted towards the end of June. Since that info is now no longer available, I though I'd give you a quick overview of this band's history. Formed in 1988, the guys made their opening move with their 2000 demo Intoxicazión Etilica. Displaying a mixture of styles (Thrash, Hardcore, Metal,Punk) and a strong speedy style quite uncommon for that time, the tape met with massive success, as did the band's now classic 1991 debut LP Soziedad Alkoholika. One EP (2001's Feliz Falsedad), a video tape (Konzertu Gaztetxean),and a full-length (2003's Y Ese Que Tanto Habla, Está Totalmente Hueco, Ya Sabéis Que El Cántaro Vacio El El Que Más Suena, issued on the Oihuka imprint) later, the band had erected their own label Mil A Gritos (which would become the home of many fine Spanish and Portuguese bands to come), with the 1995 Ratas as a first release. Releases now followed on an almost yearly basis (Diversiones...? in '96, No Intente Hacer Esto En Su Casa in '97, the live Directo in '99, and Polvo En Los Ojos in 2000), but in between the last two studio albums there was a period of 3 years. Another 3 years further in time brings us to the aforementioned Tiempos Ascuros, issued in a much larger area of influence than before, as it was also issued by Spanish label Locomotive's Germanpartnersintherest of Europe. And then the band took no less than 5 (five) years to get a new studio album out (this may partly have to do with the fact that the band was censored for 3 years by the Asociación de Victimas del Terrorismo due to the lyrics in some of their songs! And here I was, in that review of their Tiempos Oscuros album, stating the fact that their lyrics might be "dangerous" for a Spanish band...). Granted, 2006 still saw the release (also on Locomotive)of Corrosiva, a DVD with additional CD...but without any new material on it! That DVD got a gold status saleswize, and with over 350,000 copies of albums sold over the span of their career, SA eventually attracted the attention of major Metal label Roadrunner, who invited the socio-politically aware Spaniards to join their roster. In October and November of last year the band jumped into the Madrilene Estudio Uno with recording engineer Pable "Babe" Pulido to record the 15 songs which were to become their newest album, in a production by their own guitarist Jimmy. To give the recordings an extra punch, they were then sent off to Tue Madson's Antfarm Studios in Denmark for additional mixing and mastering. The result is as baffling as my introduction to the band in 2003...in fact not so much has changed since! The guys still play their exhileratingly up-tempo (calmer passages in song openings and instrumentals – instrumentals, in this album's case that's the album opening "Asalto"...which doés have a growing intensity towards the end...and the overall calmer "Glock 19", which are in effect the somewhat longer instrumental openers for the respectively ensuing songs "Sangre Al Fin" and "Nadie") and somewhat unique mix of Hardcore, (Pop) Punk, and (Thrash) Metal. Well, perhaps there's a little less Thrash in exchange for a more modern Metal, but in essence it really doesn't make much of a difference. Special moments on this album (besides those instrumenals), are the religiously controversial "Dios Vs. Alá" (which had the participation of singer Joao Gordo of Brazillian Hardcore legends Ratos De Porao), and album closer "Politica Del Miedo (Rap Solo Remix)" which, as the addition in the title suggests, is a Rap version of that same album song. Actually, the original song lends itself perfectly for this Rap version, as the rhythm guitar has that typical hacking sound needed. With the addition of some Hip Hop keyboards and the additional aid of Zaratoga based Rap crew Violadores Del Verso (hum...actually they supplanted Juan's original and typical vocals quite completely), they give the original track a nice twist...which in my very personal opinion fails to come through quite efficiently in the vocal section. For your acqaintance with the band's music, there's two tracks off the new album (plus an additional video) at myspace.com/soziedadalkoholika. Combine with the band's own website soziedadalkoholika.com for a total of 11 older tracks (3 of which also as video, one only as video) and a comparative look at the band's past material. Personally, I've always been quite ínto bands from Iberia singing in their own language, and it's a pity they made that slight beauty mistake in that album closer...otherwize SA's newest album would for sure have been added to my year-lists! People in Mexico (where Spanish is also the mother tongue) need not feel closed out, as a release in their country is apparently imminent! 93/100 Tony. |