Caballero unleash their conceptual take on the brutal Spanish conquest over the Aztec Empire that occurred early in the 16th Century. The album explores the warfare between both sides; the Spanish led by Cortes with their indigenous allies against the Aztec Empire of Moctezuma II. The central figure however being Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec God of Death and his mythological menace over the battlefield !

Review

Clocking in at just over 37 minutes, one would expect this 7 track album to kick off at a brutal pace, but 6 minute album opener The Moor-Slayer starts off with a Spanish-style acoustic guitar passage, which is left hanging before kicking into song proper. A sold riff throughout for some steady head banging, progressing to some great bass lines just half way through. I feel that the last minute or so of the song could be dropped off as the final solos and chants of Moor slayer add little extra.

Second track Caballero, gives the band one the great hallmarks of heavy metal; a self titled debut album, with a self titled song! None more metal! This kicks off with a rapid almost speed metal riffage and furious drumming, some sweet soloing and returning to the frantic riffing. Throughout the album Aguirre, Alvarado and Pizarro share vocal duties. There seems little to distinguish between them as all three adopt a raspy and raw performance which suits the music excellently.

Sorcery Above the Lake of the Water Dog, has a more epic feel to it, with the vocals being mixed up slightly; overlaying the three and almost operatic sections. This is one of my favourite tracks on the album, particular about a third into the song things slow down with some raw drumming and riffs and vocals spat out with real venom, giving a great change in dynamics, before speeding back up through the song.

The shortest track on this release, Lightning Conquest, begins where things let off on the previous track. Whilst enjoyable the sound and approach is similar to the opener. The solos from Aguirre on lead guitar really shine through on the mix here, being lifted from the battlefield chaos created by Alvarado on bass and Pizarro on drums.

If you have ever wondered what a conquistador would have spent their last moments doing, whilst laying on the bloodied battlefield, I expect that the wonderfully titled Mortally Wounded, Counting the Galaxies is a close depiction. More aggressive riffs and no nonsense drumming throughout, as has become Caballro’s hallmark, this is sonic tour of the acrid smells of blood and sweat, torment and death on the battlefield.

La Noche Triste, or in English – the Night of Sorrows, was a very important event which saw the Spanish Conquistadors driven from the Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan, losing life and treasure.

Back to where this album started with a passage of Spanish guitar leading into the seventh and final track; The Lord of the Day and the Winds. The acoustic guitar gives way into some heavy and almost doom like solid riffing from Aguirre and great bass lines from Alvarado. With a very Viking-era Bathory feel to the chorus chanting, this serves as a very apt-epic closer to the album.

Conclusion

Caballero is straight up raw riffs and primitive drumming which is undoubtedly going to get your head banging throughout. There are no frills and no musical landscapes discovered on this album, if it’s bloody warfare and brutal warmongering gods that you like then give this one a spin!

TheNwothm Score: 7/10

Links

Bandcamp: Caballero

Facebook: Gates of Hell Records

Label: Gates of Hell Records