The Blood of My Race

Makina's merit is undoubtedly the high level of music that this band did in this album. However the lyrical content has a great merit too, because it expresses the social concerns that plagued Mexico in the 1990s. The reasons I had Red as one of my favorite albums were the political issues they addressed without fear. The historical context of Mexico was special, had political crimes and indigenous rebellions such as the EZLN. All is alluded to in this album and is combined with high quality of music that convinced large sections of the public.

The musical arrangements are worthy of appreciation. Here every song is excellent; each one is innovative and effective. Makina knew exactly what kind of tone was required on tracks like "Red", "Chorizo" (Sausage) and my favorite: "La Fuerza de la Tierra" (The Earth Force). Riffing is excellent, because it achieves a delightful guitar sound that increases the aggressiveness of each song. An example of this is "Chorizo" which combines a variety of riffs with rhythm changes.

A special mention deserve rhythm and harmonies, because at all times are desperate, full of anger and hatred. Sometimes there are periods of silence and slow, as in the song titled "KFS" which only serves to highlight Makina's versatility through their melodic passages and clear voice of a woman who is in a good tune. "KFS" is a song that can satisfy the most discerning metalhead about exploring new harmonies.

Certainly the songs that stand out for their theme of political protest are "Chorizo" and "La fuerza de la Tierra." In both songs the courage and the Mexican social context are distinguishable. "¡Viva Zapata!" (Long live Zapata!), Makina shouts out with hatred. In the case of "Chorizo" we have some hip-hop features, though the thrash pace does not become affected. "La fuerza de la Tierra” is, for me, the best song, because it mentions the political issue of indigenous Zapatistas and because it dares to insult the corrupt politicians’ mother: "¡Viva México, hijos de su pinche madre!” (Long live Mexico, mother fuckers!), Makina shouts out again with conviction.

Red is an album that could easily be considered a classic of Mexican metal. I say this because it generated great excitement in 1996. Few death-thrash metal bands had emerged from the underworld to become famous among a wider audience. Almost twenty years after the first edition, I highlight this album's validity, which still enjoys great prestige among discerning metalheads from Mexico.