antiReviews: 
Brujeria - Brujerizmo 
CD Review by Goth Brooks

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editors note: This is one of the strangest CD's I've ever had come across my desk. The mythology behind the band combines Satan, Death Metal and the Mexican Drug Lords. The really compelling aspect is that the members are anonymous and are rumored to feature members of very well known bands. I'll let Goth tell you all about it. But be warned - This is the band your mother warned you about! aG

Brujeria -Brujerizmo
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: Nov 7, 2000.

Tracks

Brujerizmo

Vayan Sin Miedo

La Traicion

Pititis, Te Invoco

Laboritorio Cristalitos

Division Del Norte

Marcha De Odio

Anti-Castro

Cuiden A Los Ninos

El bajon

Mecosario

El Desmadre

Sida De La Mente

 

 
 
 
 
 

Brujeria has all the evil elements about them to make even the sickest fans of black-metal buckle under their big black hand of doom.  I didn't know what I was getting into with Brujeria when I took on this assignment. All I had to go on was the brief bio of the band antiGUY gave me. I will say upfront the concept behind the band turned me off.  But I was talking to antiGUY about what the music was like and he swore up and down that I'd like it, I mean after all, I have been pegged as the "heavy" music guy around here ever since I arrived.  Just look around and navigate the site a little and most of the stuff you see released by Roadrunner Records lately, Goth Brooks probably reviewed it.  I didn't come to antiMUSIC intending to write-up so many of the heavier bands out there, but that's the way it seems to be working out. (I will be sure to give Goth the  the next boy band cd that comes out to review. aG). So I said some Hail Mary's, burned the bio and got down to business at hand and listened to the CD. 

Brujeria is a band of Black Metal merchants who self describe their brand of metal mayhem as "Machete Metal," and have their sights set on annihilating anyone who dares step in the circle of the band's collective evil, or the front door of their clandestine meth-lab at least.  They have a gimmick modeled after the Satanic, Murderous, Mexican Drug Dealers known also as �Brujeria," who use black magic to strike fear in Mexico's religious locals, and the local policia.  I know they're supposed to be scary and everything, but instead of striking fear into this big bad boy here, I just shake my head and laugh.  I don't go for the Satanic s*** first off, and secondly all these bands who ever tried to inspire fear in anyone through vivid depictions of evil, like murder and Satan, usually get worn out pretty quick.  The music is great on "Brujerizmo," don't misunderstand me there.  The whole thing about this CD though is that it comes off as having more of a Spinal Tap aura about it than one burned into it by Satan himself with the pre-fabricated Satanic image and all.

Another part of the bands image is that their identities remain anonymous with the use of ski masks covering their faces.  The band consists of secret members from Fear Factory, Faith No More, Napalm Death, Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir.  I can only guess by the distinctive guitar playing that it's Dino from Fear Factory on guitar.  And after logging onto www.brujeria.com and seeing a picture of the band decked out in their ski masks, poncho's, machete's, and sub-machine guns (Oh my God! the Hispanic parallel to Ice-T's Body Count!), I'm 100% sure it's Dino on guitar.  Can you think of any other member of Brujeria from any of the former bands they came from who are five feet tall, three hundred and fifty pounds?  I'm sure it's Dino.  I won't even try to start guessing the identities of the other members.  So, to sum it all up here we have a band of fictitious Mexican drug dealers who play super heavy music at warp speed, with guitar playing that sounds exactly like Dino from Fear Factory because it is Dino from Fear Factory, and with lyrics sung in a language I don't speak.  I did hear whoever the singer is screaming lyrics I kind of understand though, like anti-Cristo, anti-Castro, and hoy.  And with song titles like "Laboritorio Cristalitos," which translated into English means "Meth-Lab," you can see that Spinal Tap aura right up there on the surface of Brujeria's Brujerizmo. 

Some people will like this because it's so heavy yet different, and some will like it because the whole concept of Brujeria is comical.  While the music does warrant some attention the mythology behind Brujeria should not be taken seriously.  You could hurt yourself taking this stuff too seriously.
 

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