Cubanate
Barbarossa

The Albion Cubanate debuted in the early '90s and were among the pioneers of that industrial rock genre so dear to sacred monsters like Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and Skinny Puppy. Guitars sharp as swords, synthesizers, and sustained techno rhythms.

The singer Marc Heal has always been a gruff character, known for his tirades against the world and his megalomania. In those days, I remember, he used to rail against rockers and metalheads guilty, in his opinion, of not understanding the greatness of electronic music. Famous, in this sense, was his participation in a radio broadcast hosted by the jovial Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), during which Heal vented his resentment against heavy metal lovers.

The group has produced five albums but, despite the decent quality of their offering, never achieved the success they perhaps deserved.

"Barbarossa" was released in 1996 and, for better or worse, follows the well-tested and defined techno-industrial-rock style of previous chapters. The album is a concentrate of anger, hatred, and frustration. From the first to the last track, we can indeed hear powerful techno beats, abrasive guitars, and a growling voice. Songs like "Vortech I", "Barbarossa", and "Joy" prove to be authentic vitriolic attacks. No compromises with forms of grunge, crossover, and other genres that were prevalent at the time. Only flaw: in Cubanate, the techno component is predominant. The beats are used with frequent regularity, and undoubtedly, this aspect distances the band from the names mentioned at the beginning of the review. Yet the claustrophobic tension unleashed by "Barbarossa" could compete with the sick sounds of Al Jourgensen & company, even if the masters remain a few steps above the students. It is certainly not the best expression in the metal-industrial field, don't tell Heal I used this term, but the commitment and dedication of the English group are undeniable.

If you want to dance and headbang, here you have everything you need.