CIUDAD DE BRAHMAN

LOS NATAS are a Stoner Rock trio out of Argentina and it was back in 1996 they made some waves with their debut "Delmar". The biggest complaint about their debut was the KYUSS hero worshipping that was going on, I mean check out the album cover. The band clearly got the message and went North to San Francisco to create album number two, the one I'm reviewing. Recorded at Louder Studios in January of 1999 they enlisted the help of MELVINS drummer and multi-instrumentalist Dale Crover who produced and helped in many ways including playing some piano and slide guitar. I have never heard slide guitar plated like that, the guy truly is a maniac.

Just about every where I looked online the word "legendary" was placed in front of this album. It truly is a special record where the band added space, psychedelia and space rock to their heavy sound. Distorted guitars rule here and I said this when I reviewed the two albums that follow this one(and that is one great run) that this band is so inventive. Prog runs through their blood or something, but it's like after their debut they decided not to repeat themselves let alone repeat someone else's music. We get 14 tracks over 51 plus minutes and I wish I knew about this one in 1999 although non-english vocals weren't my thing back then sadly.

They open things with an instrumental that builds nicely to riffs but it's not that heavy. One of my favourites is the next one "Meteoro 2028" but it should be 2029 but we get some energy here like a meteor heading straight for planet earth at breakneck speed. Vocals later but the guitar is the focus early. The longest track is "Tufi Meme" at 6 minutes and a top three for me. A catchy and mid-paced sound but they change it up throughout. The next one the title track is a top three as well and it's that distorted guitar and the heaviness that follows that I like. I really like those distorted guitar melodies that return later.

Final top three is "Paradise" but I want to talk about that slide guitar from Crover on "Alohawaii" where after 2 minutes he lets it rip. He opens the song with some grace playing the slide but that grace goes out the window after 2 minutes. I also need to mention the opening drum solo that becomes what! to open "Polvareda". Check it out! Easily 4 stars along with the next two although I lean towards the final of the three "Toba-Trance" from 2003 where they extend the songs and add an ethnic vibe.