EL DIABLO

This band is not so known around the world, not even here in Mexico, they recorded their first and only album (self-titled by the way) in 1999, before that, they had some line up changes and a blend of various genres such as metal, psychedelic and rock. Like other 90`s bands they have been influenced by Pink Floyd, Gong and Guru Guru among others, in this album we can appreciate some of that influenced sound. Categorized as a psychedelic space rock band, i think that`s where they belong, with hints of jazz and experimentations were placed in this album, so here i go with the songs.

"Huautla" is the first song, a great song which show us the quality of the musicians, besides the members of El Diablo, here we can find guest musicians, for example in this song Alejandro Otaola (guitarist of Santa Sabina, an excellent mexican band) plays the sitar, sitar is not so frequent in progressive rock, here it makes the song more special and with a unique sound, progressiveness through the song.

"A Mind Bender" is a long song, characterized for that soft but great guitar sound Ivan Nieblas who is/was the leader of the band makes a great work playing the guitar and also the bass in the next song. This song is almost always the same rythm, bass sound reminds me of the swcond part of Pink Floyd`s Echoes, also here we can enjoy the psychedelic passages.

"Purusha" starts with that mentioned bass sound making the rythm of the song,it is not the best song of the album, maybe a little repetitive, with it`s slow tempo moments, but nothing of another world, drums are always great.

"Capitan Obeatleration", a weird name, i dont know if it has something relationed with The Beatles, at least the music is so different, it shows us from the start a psychedelic oriented band, strong guitar riffs, this song is great, a clear example of "modern" psychedelia,another almost 10 minute song, with this song louder your mind will fly!.

"Womoon" is another of that slow songs, which are envolving you, slow tempo song, the first and only with vocals, also here we can find a very nice flute sound, the guitar chords are always the same, but it makes it great, it is not necessary to change, i like this song a lot.

"Equus" wow, an excellent song, the highest point maybe, it is the largest over 11 minutes, again with that great guitar through the song, in fact it doenst have mood changes or time changes etc, but that 11 fast minutes of great guitar and armony makes your mind blowing , i really enjoy it, it freaks me out.

"Rumanian Blues" show us that space and cosmic sound, not as clear as Hawkwind for example, also this song is again slow tempo, experimentation , but with a similar style all the song, this time the acoustic guitar took the show.

"Samelbaheson" is the last song of this great album, and of course it couldnt get behind, it is another great song, but this time with a great change, it starts again with that exquisite sitar sound togehter with a voice over nowhere, which is reminiscent to some indian music, but suddenly El Diablo returns, again with that superb guitar with faster tempo, bass and drums like always great, also the flute appears here with an acid sound.

I really love this album, it doesnt have weak moments, this makes me think about give to it 5 stars, but im doubting, so after all i highly recommend this album, a great exponent of Mexican prog, and 4.5 stars really, because it is not a masterpiece, but it could be of course a great addition to any prog lover.