Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
El Puente De Alvarado - Conquista y Destrucción de México-Tenochtitlán CD (album) cover

CONQUISTA Y DESTRUCCIÓN DE MÉXICO-TENOCHTITLÁN

El Puente De Alvarado

 

Heavy Prog

2.67 | 13 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Like so many other countries and several occasions, Mexico had its own one-shot supergroup in the 90's named El Puente de Alvarado.The band consisted of keyboardist Carlos Alvarado, previously a member of Chac Mool, Decibel and Via Lactea, apparently the leader of this formation, guitarist Ricardo Moreno and drummer Victor Baldovinos, both members of Mexican Prog veterans Iconoclasta, and bassist Arturo Manzur.Their only album with the patriotic title ''Conquista y destrucción de Mexico Tenochtitlan'' was recorded during the summer of 95' at Studio Eclipse in Mexico City and was released in 1996 on Momia, featuring saxophonist German Bringas in one track.

From the background of the involved members you should expect something close to Prog Fusion with experimental and symphonic touches in the process.Well, throw away anything symphonic-related, do not expect anything close to Jazz apart from the band's jamming mood, and keep the word Fusion quite tight, add some evident KING CRIMSON experimentations and turn up the volume of the guitar sound.I am surprised the band was named after Carlos Alvarado, because the true hero in the album is Ricardo Moreno and his lust for edgy, technical guitar textures.Alvarado is basically limited to providing cosmic, mellow synth atmospherics or more cinematic and orchestral soundscapes, however every now and then he pops up with some more pronounced organ tricks and piano lines.Otherwise this is a guitar-dominated album with Fusion and heavier tendencies, propelled by the tireless soloing and technical moves.This surfaces as a sterile production though, especially when considering where these guys came from, not to mention that the organ sounds totally fake.I compared the band with KING CRIMSON not only because of its guitar-fronted and technical sound, but the atmosphere rarely moves away from the clinic approach of robotic executions and I consider that a minus, because El Puente de Alvarado were not King Crimson.

Anachronistic guitar-led Heavy-Fusion without the awaited flourishes of ethnic vibes, as proposed by the title.Much in the vein of KING CRIMSON, slightly jamming and extremely technical, lacking the emotion of other productions or the unique inspiration of the British masters.I would strictly stick with King Crimson fans for this one, maybe those into the music of Iconoclasta will also appreciate Moreno's guitar work...2.5 stars.

apps79 | 2/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this EL PUENTE DE ALVARADO review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.