### Machetazo: Ruin

#### 06/07/13 || gk

“Ruin” is the latest full length from Spanish death grind duo Machetazo and their first in a good 5 years. Sure there have been a bunch of splits, EPs and compilations released in the last few years but this is the follow up to 2008’s “Mundo cripta” and it is pretty fucken devastating.

Album opener “Horca” sounds like a death grind tribute to Slayer and Dopi and Bustabad sound pretty fucking great. The song is powerful and ferocious and “Ruins” is off to a great start. “Aparición” is short, to the point and has plenty of energy but it’s with “Espectro” when the band first slows things down that things really start to pick up. This is a catchy, groovy song with powerful vocals and some killer riffs and the vaguely melodic guitar line at the end works perfectly with what’s come before. “Fauces” has a killer riff and some pummelling drumming and is probably the most old school death metal song here. “Tanatorio” goes for a slow, doom laden feel and ends up beating young upstarts like Encoffination at their own game. “Tétrico” starts with a sludgy, stoned swagger and slowly mutates into an out of control grind beast and is another great song while album closer “Ruinas” is an 8 minute mood piece filled with a sombre atmosphere and drawn out riffs.

Machetazo has never really sounded this good. The song writing is of a high quality and the execution is flawless. Dopi’s vocals sound great and Bustabad’s riffs are solid and memorable. The duo mix their usual brand of death grind with some serious punk energy and slow things down every now and then to powerful effect.

The production here is also pretty perfect with the band sounding dirty and nasty but never to the point where the instruments sound muddled or everything gets too murky. “Ruin” should appeal to long-time fans of the band but it’s also a great starting point if you’ve never heard Machetazo before.

- Information
- Released: 2013
- Label: Doomentia Records
- Website: www.machetazo.org
- Band
- Dopi: vocals, drums
- Rober Bustabad: guitars, bass

- Tracklist
- 01. Horca
- 02. Ectoplasma
- 03. Aparición
- 04. Espectro
- 05. Revientas
- 06. Fauces
- 07. Tinieblas / Ritual
- 08. Tanatorio
- 09. Desenterrado
- 10. Mazmorra
- 11. Desfigurado
- 12. Tétrico
- 13. Ruinas