When people share those memes and jokes about being broke and wanting to become a drug-dealer so their money troubles will magically vanish, we all chuckle and share in that sentiment to a slight degree, after all, who wouldn’t want to earn plenty of cash which the taxman hasn’t sunk their filthy claws into? In the case of Brujeria, this isn’t quite the case. Over the years, this metal cartel contingent has had plenty of members pass through its ranks. Sure, life on the run is dangerous and the FBI are after you constantly, but this is the first release from the death-grind dealers I’ve caught since 2016’s “Pocho Aztlan” and there has been more of a shake-up in the line-up than anything associated with Guns N Roses during the period between 1993 and 2008.
This new cartel hit squad consists of long term veterans Juan Brujo, Fantasma, Hongo and Pinche Peach, El Sángron and El Criminal from the last album’s line up and La Bruja Encabronada to give us a 7-person core of extreme metal’s finest. Rumour has it that Anton Reisenegger and Jessica Pimentel have been spotted round the vicinity of Shane Embury, but that could just be mere speculation as to why those three names have been dropped whilst talking about fugitive Mexican musical drug-lords…. Please don’t send a hit squad after me!!
Getting onto the music… It is pretty much what you come to expect from Brujeria.
Over the years their sound has had plenty of variety to it due to the numerous members who have passed through their ranks but at its core, the unmistakable grind and crusty influences are there. Buzzing guitars which are frantic one moment and then tight as hell the next are complimented by a massive low end thundering of bass guitar and a barrage of double kick and blasts. The multiple vocalist side adds plenty of bite and at times it can feel just a little disorientating when the multiple voices begin to snarl over each other. In a live setting, this chaos is fantastic but when you’re sat down and trying to zero in on something, it can have you feeling ‘lost’. There is also the usual elements of samples and comedic roleplaying in the tracks which helps round out the atmosphere of things and sets things up for what is to come.
Thematically, it’s pretty much more of the same. Occult and demonic themes, socio-political commentary, war, death… and the first half of the album does pack a punch. Mexican Mariachi brass-augmented grindcore kicks things off in the title track “Esto Es”, “Bruja Encabronada” is a scathing track featuring some sharp vocals and high-intensity grinds which caught me off guard the first time I listened to it and as the album progresses, the heavier aspects of the grind start to come through; “Mexorcista” sounds intense and vicious, “Tu Vida Loca” has that unmistakable Napalm Death vibe and towards the end of the album, we also get previously released single “COVID-666” which has a real punk like edge to it, and the surprise of the abum: A cover of Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine”, which sounds hilarious but at the same time isn’t one of their better covers.
There isn’t much else you can really say about this release. The main issue with super-groups like Brujeria is that only a handful of members have it as their main musical endeavour, the rest of them tend to be there for touring or helping out in the recording processes. This lack of total consistency with the line-up means that there is a pretty predictable sound you’ll hear on the release, after all, it is pretty much the same kind of approach as previous releases from the band. Enjoyable and fun? Extremely. Experimental or pushing the boundaries of their sound? Not in the slightest.
In closing, “Esto Es” is just your typical Brujeria release. Heavy, intense, enjoyable, but not really revolutionary.
Again, hit squad, please don’t kill me.
(6/10 Fraggle)
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