BESTIÁRIO

Metaconciencia was a Mexican group, formed in 1996, fronted by two guitarists, Francisco Estrada and Ricardo Moreno.Bass duties were handed to Jose Ramon Porrua and the drum kit was tortured by Carlos Bonequi.A discovery of the Musea label, the Mexicans released their sole effort ''Bestiario'' in 2003.Moreno is responsible also for the few keyboard parts displayed in this album.

They sound some sort of a Latin version of KING CRIMSON and closer to the Chilean Prog scene, who are the leaders of this kind of complex prog sound with the electric guitar as the leading instrument.The album is split in two different forms.First one, consisting more or less of the first six pieces, is a largely electric, instrumental style with ROBERT FRIPP-like guitar parts, covering a range from Heavy to Jazz to Blues Rock, flavored by the usual presence of acoustic guitars, which are responsible for the Latin-spiced echoes of the album.Keyboards are basically absent and the music is an electroacoustic manifestation between Latin Music and cold Prog Rock with a jazzy rhythm section, passing through atmospheric dissonances and proposing often a very technical music with KING CRIMSON being the absolute reference point.From the 11-min. title-track and on things are going to change a bit.Because ''Bestiario'' sounds more of a Heavy-Symphonic Rock mix with Moreno taking his place behind the organ and Estrada offering another technical performance on electric guitars, the music of full of complex rhythms and changes, a bit more alive and rich, with a pretty dark and unique sound and offering even somekind of melody in the solos.''1899'' is some sort of intricate Prog Fusion in the vein of NATHAN MAHL and SPACED OUT with synths and electric guitars and an overall jazzy mood with echoes from KING CRIMSON, while ''Antartica'' is a good delivery on Psychedelic Fusion with a beautiful atmosphere, led by a constant rhythm pattern and changing parts on the solo guitar.

The band appeared to have been active for a few more years, but eventually the members took a permanent break with each of them working on their own career, leading to the demise of Metaconciencia.

Interesting mix of haunting KING CRIMSON-ian Heavy-Fusion with Latin acoustics.Not fully entertaining due to lack of some melodic content, but definitely convincing and rewarding.Recommended.