 Muerte Villa Texas-based Mexican nationalist death metal of the rhythmically-emphasized and brutal variety, Muerte Villa structure songs upon a foundation of blasting rhythms and minimal amounts of traditional death metal riffs, with enough shifts in pace to keep songs adequately interesting for their brief durations. A pummeling display of raw essentials of death metal that never aspires for anything beyond, this music has violent aims through a pre-established method to communicate a militant and merciless agenda. Vocals are deep grunts and growls of Spanish lyrics that act as percussive compliment rather than emotional motivator. Suitably tempestuous and unintelligible, these vocals, while lacking in expressionistic dynamics, serve to accentuate the physicality of the attack. Pulverizing mayhem through simplistic methods, these songs are quickly initiated in a sense-of-urgency attack as if to properly inspire its audience for the killing and sacrifice of an oncoming battle. Churning sludge grooves lead mid-paced sections, yet briefly, as speed is the primary mode of function. Burly and unsympathetic, this is melodically unconcerned death metal with the brevity of grindcore, with no interest in reflection, but a call to action with unwavering tenacity. The production is appropriate, as it emphasizes the music’s strength in rhythmic industriousness. The bass-heavy sound supports the music’s intention of continuous motion at intensified tempo, steadily operational through a rumbling current of demolition as compositional foundation. A small collection of ideas form constructions of songs and are implemented in balanced quality in the full and useful fleshing out of minimal structural elements. These songs are simple in design and direction, formatted around basic patterns of riffs and inexorable rhythms, making no pretensions in development or innovation, simply aiming to bludgeon. One would hope for a stronger identity in parallel with the conceptual agenda. Functional in its intention, the music fails to establish itself as an accommodation to Mexican nationalism, based as it is on Americanized death metal traditions. As a starting point, this approach is not problematic, but as a definition of the totality of the band’s output in conference with their thematic agenda, it abducts character from the music, leaving a spirit-void encased in a solid yet adversely nonproprietary application. This band needs to allow the unique characterizations of their heritage to shine through their music as a more convincing expression of their pride and devotion, rather than resting on formulas previously established that have no direct connection to this band’s intent in concept. 5/6/07 Tracklisting: 1. Primer Pagina
|