Matando güeros

This is Brujeria’s first, and to me, best sounding album. It is not over burdened by fancy guitar leads and tasteful drum work. Cro-Magnon riffs and skull smashing skin pounding. If this sounds unappealing to you, then stop reading now. If you're expecting the sterile tones of Fear Factory, this is not for you. It sounds like your basic murky, lo-fi death/grind, with an emphasis on murky. This sounds like it was recorded in a sewer. This album would be the sound a mutated betentacled sewer monster would make if it could talk. And that is where the appeal for this album lies with me.

The riffs sound very basic and stripped down, with little to zero ‘tech’ in them. They might even be described as having a somewhat Punk influence. Luckily, Dino Cazares AKA Asesino, uses very few Fear Factoryisms. I’ve heard that they use 2 basses in their lineup, and it show with their extreme low end frequencies. The drummer, Raymond Herrera AKA Grenudo, doesn’t rely on triggers, making the album sound extremely organic. The blast beats are adorably sloppy, lending to the lo-fi feeling of the album. He also shows a nice sense of groove for the most part. The ‘singer’ has pretty much 2 style, a basic gruff yelling, and an understandable growling style. The Mexican Spanish lyrics are hilarious too.

One good thing about the album is that the songs are short, thereby not causing boredom. The album clocks in at just over 30 minutes. The songs also follow a basic structure, but they still throw a few surprises here and there. One of my problems with the album is that I have to crank up the stereo really loud whenever I listen to this as well. There are a few filler type songs, but since the songs are do short, I don’t mind. I feel that the album is best when listened to from beginning to end, like a book. If you like basic detuned death/grind than this is a good album. If you are stuck in Melodeath limbo than it probably won’t appeal to you.