Mala Suerte
Rituals of Self-Destruction (Illwill)
Reviewed by Michael Toland, Fri., April 3, 2015
Mala Suerte
Rituals of Self-Destruction (Illwill)True to its moniker, Mala Suerte always felt slightly out of step with Austin's metal renaissance, never earning the same acclaim as the Sword or the Well. Rituals of Self-Destruction deserves a better fate, peak sludge and crunch from the psychedelic-edged quintet. Thundering from dark, thick depths, "Labyrinth of Solitude" and "Theater of the Absurd" crawl forth like conqueror worms on acid, steeped in the occult and magic mushrooms. "Utopic Delusions" and the explicitly political "Slaves Shall Serve" slather on classic chug with a shining NWOBHM blade. "Rivers to Ruin" revisits the band's thrashcore roots, whipping hair and snapping necks. Gary Rosas' commanding growl takes center stage, but guitarists David Guerrero and Vincent Piña drive the tracks with layered riffs that shift from slashing doom to grinding hooks. Sophisticated songwriting and instrumental interplay animate Rituals of Self-Destruction, stomping Mala Suerte into the twilight as masters of the secret fire.
