Though many view Franco’s rule as repressive, Spain nonetheless experienced remarkable musical developments such as its metal scene.
Crom stood out among Spanish metal bands of the 80s for two reasons; they sang in English and had university educated members. Yet Animal de Ciudad remains an impressive debut album.
Acracia
Acacia trees are large trees with slender racemes that are widely used for making gum-arabic. Acacias also make excellent food crops and have medicinal uses, with fragrant flowers and edible fruit being produced on an ongoing basis. Acacia can be found all across India, Egypt and Morocco as its wood is highly durable and resistant to insects.
Heavy metal music often features bass parts with rhythmical rather than melodic basslines to give its characteristic power and drive. Acacia trees can reach twenty feet tall with thick stems reaching two feet thick – giving this genre its characteristic strength and drive.
Mexico is home to several metal bands, such as Leprosy, Brujeria and Transmetal. Each has a strong track record within their genre and draw large audiences at their concerts. Furthermore, Mexico hosts multiple major metal festivals that showcase many bands from varying subgenres.
Banzai
Banzai were an unusual Spanish metal group in that they chose to sing exclusively in Basque instead of English, instead producing just one album before disbanding shortly afterwards – yet still managing to leave behind an impressive album of blue collar metal that will satisfy most fans of this genre.
Nu began their career as a folk prog rock band but over time have become more metalized. Their debut album Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy features an intriguing mixture of styles with elements that recall Jethro Tull or King Crimson at times.
Obus’ debut album Obus provides listeners with lots of enjoyable, riff-laden metal that captures the day-to-day problems faced by working class guys in Madrid. While they are more commercially focused than Baron Rojo, their sense of creativity remains intact – in the same vein, their follow up album Filosofas No Defendibles features more serious yet still fun metal songs.
Muro
Muro, established in 2002, is a Mexican heavy metal band with socially conscious music that features satirical elements. Members are proud to be part of Mexico’s metal scene – they perform death metal, melodic speed metal and power metal – with Llueve Sangre (Rain Blood), their latest album being an especially violent experience.
This band enjoys an excellent standing within the Mexican metal scene. Their members boast extensive experience playing for crowds. They have performed at major events like Hell and Heaven Metal Fest. Furthermore, the group has recorded several albums.
Their music fuses classic rock and heavy metal influences, influencing both their style and musical background, making them one of the few bands with such a varied background that make them truly stand out. Fans respond well to them; their music can often elicit strong emotions; elements from pop and reggae genres often feature. Influences include The Beatles, AC/DC and Metallica who all influence them with classic rock sound with heavier overtones.
Santa
Santa were an enjoyable band from San Sebastian with great charm in their debut album and some fantastic riffs, yet unfortunately disbanded as quickly as they arrived, leaving behind only one album – often an issue among metal bands – Santa may have experienced creative exhaustion over time which led to them disbanding soon thereafter.
Although their debut was an admirable effort, Salvese Quien Pueda wasn’t enough to stay ahead in an already competitive field that included bands such as Baron Rojo and Mazo. Though musically superior to its predecessor, Salvese Quien Pueda still didn’t provide enough impactful tracks.
Caid Deceit came and went quite quickly, recording only two demos before breaking up for good. Still, they left behind an impression through inclusion on Descarga Norte compilation and their more thrashy style than most Spanish metal bands at that time; their debut record Telon de Acero blurred the boundaries between traditional heavy and speed metal genres.
Tigres
Madrid may have led the charge in Spanish metal in the 80s, but bands from elsewhere also strived to make an impressionful statement through metal music. Catalan band Tigres proved this by producing their debut album closer to folk prog rock than heavy metal; over time however they gradually settled upon an amalgam of styles which brought them closer to Iron Maiden and Saxon.
Their music may have lacked originality, but more than made up for its lack in appeal to working class Spaniards with its vibrant, lively sound that appealed to working-class populations. Their lyrics captured daily struggles, love for rock and alcohol or an opposition against Franco’s regime – reflecting what life was like during “la transicion”.
Thor was another outstanding band from this scene. Unfortunately, their only full length failed to gain widespread popularity, yet its Euro metal sound recalls early Helloween in terms of fast tempos, catchy melodies, and impressive guitar work – they left an indelible mark on their scene nonetheless.
Caid Deceit
At a time when thrash was making inroads in America, Muro were producing riffs with remarkable speed. Telon de Acero stands as an outstanding example – featuring nonstop barrage of riffs that could easily have come straight out of Accept or Judas Priest – only all done with Spanish flair!
Nu was another early Spanish heavy metal band to emerge during 1978 with their album Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy, although this album leans more toward rock urbano music with occasional flashes of metallic (a la Jethro Tull). They then expanded closer towards metal with Angeles o Demonios?.
Zarpa emerged from the Rock Radical Vasco movement of late 70s Basque Country. Their debut LP,?Herencia de un Imperio?, offers an intriguing if not completely successful blend of folk prog rock, metal and some degree of political commentary – though as soon as more metal was added into their subsequent releases they lost interest significantly.
Goliath
Goliath was a legendary Philistine warrior that appeared in the Bible. A descendent of Nephilim (sons of God who married human wives), his name conjures images of doom and destruction; thus reminding Israel of their failure to conquer their promised land. His massive size and power would constantly remind Israel that its ambition was unrealized.
Goliath was described in various biblical texts as being 6 to 9 feet tall, making him an intimidating sight for Israel. Yet David defeated Goliath with just one stone from his slingshot; its story continues to resonate today across audiences worldwide.
Mexico boasts an active metal scene, with bands like Leprosy and Transmetal as prominent representatives. Mexico also hosts several large metal festivals which attract large audiences with international acts performing both progressive metal as well as classic heavy metal – some even touring outside Mexico like Argentina!
Nu
Brujeria is one of the few heavy metal bands to emerge from Latin America. Their music draws upon sinister, disturbing stories to create their dark and brutal soundscape, from drug dealers to witchcraft; its members have even been likened to Ross Robinson (producer of numerous nu metal albums).
Heavy metal musicians and fans came under scrutiny during the 1980s, with critics accusing the genre of inducing violence or leading people into suicide. Yet its supporters pointed out that its exploration of madness and horror were simply part of its process; metal has always been an expressive form that provides strength, resilience and hope through its music and lyrics.
Metal songs transport you into another realm, whether it’s on the edge of your breaking point or dancing along to an anthem; their melodies connect us globally as fellow metalheads – and can even help deal with real life difficulties more effectively than anything else! Many have even found relief through listening to great metal songs in dealing with real issues in life.