I have mixed feelings about Cinco de Mayo. I grew up in central Texas, and celebrated the date every year after a certain point. On the other hand, the certain point was when I reached drinking age, which was the age at which my friends and I could convince winos to buy us tequila at liquor stores. That became a road to misery.
My first exposure to tequila was at age 16 on a high school Spanish Club trip to Monterrey. One of my buds, who was fluent in Spanish without having to be taught, evaded the teachers by climbing out a hotel window and down a fire escape on our first afternoon there, returning with a couple of bottles. That night I never made it out of the bus that took our teachers and us to some restaurant. I said I was sick, and that was no fuckin’ lie.
Even now, all it takes is the smell of straight tequila to bring on a wave of nausea. Doesn’t mean I’ve given up on it (there have been many subsequent tequila poisoning experiences in the many years since that Monterrey trip), but these days I prefer to take my poison in a margarita. Goes down easier, though a high percentage of the time I still wind up crouched over a toilet begging for mercy.
But I don’t mean to suggest that Cinco de Mayo is nothing more than a chance to get shit-faced. There’s rich history behind the date as well, but in my mind it’s also an excuse to revisit some Mexican metal. That’s another form of poison I can’t seem to resist.
So, without further ado (or any further vomit stories), here’s a playlist for your Cinco de Fuckin’ Mayo made by Mexican extreme metal bands (or in some cases by transplanted Mexicans) — including one brand new track from a forthcoming album. If you’ve got any favorite Mexican metal bands or tunes you’d like to contribute to the festivities, or any thoughts about the music below, please leave a Comment. ¡Salud!
ZOMBIEFICATION
PUTREFACT
SOL NEGRO
THE CHASM
MAJESTIC DOWNFALL
SEROCS
And, last but not least, here’s a song from a mysterious Mexican band named QUESTION, whose debut album (Doomed Passages) is coming out on June 4 via Mexico’s Chaos Records. The song is “Nefarious Conclusion”:
I can’t stand the smell/taste of tequila myself, but it was a staple ingredient in my signature cocktail back in the day.
What else went into that cocktail?
We must know.
Start with a pint glass, add ice (not much), blackcurrant cordial, quad port, double vodka, double tequila, cider to top it off. Then proceed to die.
That sounds lethal. I can’t imagine what it would taste like. I want one.
It was pretty lethal. Infamously known as The Half Hour Hammer. I still hold the record for most drunk without vomiting and/or dying.
If you get the mix just right it tastes like really strong Sangria… if you get it wrong… woe befalls you.
Just making sure The Chasm was on the playlist…Everything checks out, so you people can go about the rest of your day
LOL. Since going about the rest of my day will no doubt involve tequila, I’m not sure your green light is going to do me any favors.
You missed some Kraken man! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD5aP1FmBaw
I find their debut to be a good showing of deathcore, though sadly after that album a lot of crazy line up changes happened and now it’s like they’ve kinda become a satire of themselves, at least to my eyes.
Anyway, hope you’ll enjoy it if you don’t know them.
Salud! (I’m mexican myself btw)
I remember that Here Comes the Kraken album, but it’s been a while since I’ve thought about them. Thanks for the reminder.
i used to love Tequila (i don’t drink at all, anymore), i love Mexican food (i would gladly fistfight someone for the last taco on the plate) and my wife and i got married in New Mexico, but i’ve never celebrated Cinco de Mayo. i don’t know why, i just haven’t.
that said, this is absolutely killer list of songs! 🙂
Mexican food has been one of the most vital pillars of my childhood. I don’t think I can be truly prepared for the withdrawals that will come with moving away from the Mexican food heaven of SoCal for Chicago (though, to be fair, Chicago has a lot of other types of great food going for it).
Sorry guys, no stories of shitefaced-ness from me, yet. Give it a few years (or at least a semester or two).
What? No ViRginTuRtleWhoRe? No CemeteriuM? No Rotten Pork? x)
I’m a stranger to those bands — but with names like that, I must track them down. 🙂
Diggin the Serocs. Any Mexican metal sung in Spanish?
Transmetal are entirely Hispanophonic
For Muddy: here’s some Transmetal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEWzUA-IdGQ
First one that comes to mind is Brujeria, but I didn’t include them because at any given time it seems like the majority of the group are norteamericanos. Though it’s always difficult to know with those dudes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk21JZw6AUM
(I should say that SEROCS includes some non-Mexicans too)
Actually, only the guitar player of Serocs is mexican, but he is the composer of everything so you can count it as a mexican band I guess.
Not entirely accurate. For instance, the new album was written by him AND a Québécois.
The smell of whiskey presses my puke button due to a similar experience at a young age. As for tequila (aka “te-kill-ya” harharhar), Cabo Wabo (Sammy Hagar’s tequila) is the only one I didn’t mentally equate to the smell of fingernail polish remover.
As for metalico Mexicano, the only bands I really know are Brujeria and Asesino, which feature American members and/or are located in America. However, I had heard Serocs before and I’m digging the album you posted.
As I was typing this, I knew I was forgetting something. The band Yaotl Mictlan was apparently from Mexico, although the metal archives says they’re currently in Utah. I’ve seen them before, but they don’t often perform in our state so I can’t confirm their current location. ANYWAY, the music combines black metal with Aztec themes and traditional instrumentation. Listen for yourself:
http://yaotlmictlan.bandcamp.com/
Not a mexican band , but for some reason it seems fitting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1oPb7lHJNg
check out hacavitz, raped god 666,
Second Hacavitz..great band..also recommend lead singer Antimo Buonnano thrash band Profanator