Well, I’ll tell you what!! If any of you Metalheads out there pick up your CD’s or vinyl in my case, by the way, the cover and logo looks, you’re really missing out on this one.

Especially you old-school British New Wave Metal fans, because it doesn’t really pop out at you.When I threw it in for the second go-round, I heard what I needed to hear.Originally forming in Los Angeles as a three-piece consisting of Fili Fibiano (guitars, also activein Fortress & Gravesword), Ben Richardson (drums), and James-Paul Luna (vocals, ex-White Wizzard). But on the day Argentina won the football World Cup in 2022, bassist Nico Staub was
picked up and thrown into the line-up before signing up with High Roller Records, which released an EP and one single.Both can be found on the mini-album Enhanced. This is their first full-length. The title ‘Muerte Y Metal” translates to “Death & Metal “right now. They are currently one of the hottest new bands to hit the metal scene.

Vocalist James-Paul explains that “beyond the literal translation, I feel like it encompasses thealbum’s theme and overall vibe of the music. The lyrics vary, but the themes are real life, realexperiences, ups and downs, grief, fantasy, death, and joy. In essence, it’s heavy metal about life.You could say, ‘metal por vida, y metal hasta muerte’ (translating to English, ‘Metal ‘for life Metal till death’)”

These guys, listened to the first two Iron Maiden albums alot and drummer Ben Richardson beats the pads like a maniac which brings me back to the early days of listening to good old “Dirty” Phil Taylor from Motorhead… crazy nuts!! So, if you enjoy banging your head to that noise, well, take off your headphones and shake up your neighbor’s morning, because this is the album to do it!! This one is definitely full of British New Wave heavy metal influences, for sure. The singer does sound a little like Paul Di’Anno, but it’s not him. I checked the scheduling. between the two… Oh, and if you hadn’t already guessed, the vocals are in Spanish. Luna himself and Fili are of Mexican heritage, whereas Nico is from Argentina. This explains a lot of the song titles. ‘Entre La Tormenta’ or ‘Reyes De Los Tiniebias’ “I have always wanted to write and sing in Spanish. Since this is the family’s native tongue,” says Luna. “This in turn would reach Los Angeles, but also my friends and family in Mexico, Latin America, Europe and everywhere.”.

“Spanish-speaking metalheads grow their hair long and always play on 10. It is definitely our goal. to play shows in Spain and South America. This writer doesn’t see any reason why a larger act wouldn’t throw them on the bill for a large tour. No wonder, then, that Spanish metal bands have been such an influence. Oh man, don’t even get me started!! Aside from the greats, Baron Rojo, Angeles Del Enfierno, Obus, Panzer, Muro, etc., I have to mention bands like Santa, Zeus, Tigres, and Banzai… There’s so much Spanish language and metal acts, and my roots are strongly grounded in the heavy 70’s Spanish rock and program bands too.” “I think we could write an entire book about the awesome heavy music coming out of Spain, Mexico and Latin America. Some worthy favorites are Blanca, Megaton, Luzbel, Khafra, Hemetica, Crazy Lazy, Gahanna, V8, and Riff.

But, in terms of the 70’s stuff, I love Los Dugs, El Reloj, Tapiman, Pax, Tarkus, Pappos Blues,
Pescado Rabioso, anything that Pappos or Spinnetta did, for that matter.”
These two are my favorites.
Track 4: I Dunno Nothin’
Track 7: Lady Lightning

Listening to the song Switchblade, you can tell there’s some Thin Lizzy in there as well.
“Yes, that’s an old song that I co-wrote when I was in a band called White Wizzard with them.
guitarist James J. LaRue. So, pretty much what I’m saying is that you should go out and get this one!! I have to go listen to it again!! KEEP BANGING!! “Yes, Thin Lizzy and UFO are big influences on me too.”

TRACKLISTING:
01 Reyes De Las Tinieblas
02 Switchblade
03 Fantasy
04 I Dunno Nothin’
05 Muerte Y Metal
06 Entra La Tormenta
07 Lady Lightning
08 Intranced – Pulse
09 Passionate Pretender
10 See You on the Other Side

LINE-UP:
James-Paul Luna – vocals
Fili Bibiano – guitars / keyboards
Nico Staub – bass
Ben Richardson – drums

Find more INTRANCED online here.

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Stephen John Allen

Categories: Interviews, Intranced, News

Tags: Intranced, Stephen John Allen