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Rating:
"Avalancha" is unfortunately the last studio album by Héroes del Silencio (specifically their fourth), released on September 18, 1995 and presented at the Centro Cultural Delicias in Zaragoza. It undoubtedly represents the highest point of their musical career.
We are faced with a pure rock & roll album clearly influenced by American bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, gritty, energetic, and with an excellent rhythmic base, decidedly more direct and crystalline than the previous work (El Espiritu del Vino). For the production of "Avalancha," the Héroes relied on the experience and professionalism of Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with artists of the caliber of Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, and Pink Floyd. Another novelty is the presence of second guitarist Alan Boguslavsky, who participated in the composition of all the tracks but was unfortunately sidelined by the record label EMI, which considered him only a session musician, unlike the band which treated him as one of their own. Alan joined the band in 1993 on the occasion of the "El camino del Exceso" tour and remained until the breakup in October 1996. Furthermore, just before leaving the scene, the Héroes released the double live album "Parasiempre" to document their last long successful tour that lasted fourteen months and took them to perform in over twenty countries.
Now let's move on to the album. After the brief intro "Derivas," we dive into the overwhelming "Rueda, Fortuna!" which, as usual, highlights Juan Valdivia's guitar and Enrique Bunbury's powerful vocals. "Deshacer el Mundo" and "Avalancha" are among the band's best tracks ever, and the title track is particularly spectacular and engaging live, powerful and flawless. On this note, I invite everyone to watch the performance the group gave at the Monsters of Rock in Brazil (in 1996), where you can admire a great and inspired Bunbury. Among these two tracks, we must not forget to mention another gem from the Aragonese quartet, "Iberia Sumergida," which was also promoted with an original and provocative music video (those who know and follow the band understand perfectly), enriched by a splendid "Spanish-style" guitar and an excellent performance by Pedro Andreu on drums that gives it an "Iberian" flavor as is easily understood when listening. Then we find two splendid ballads "En Brazos de la Fiebre" and "La Chispa Adecuada," with the former unfortunately overlooked in live performances, ending with a wonderful solo by maestro Valdivia.
"Días de Borrasca (Vispera de Resplandores)" is characterized by hard, angry rock, with lyrics that serve as a violent critique of the inquisition and the innocent deaths it caused. "Morir Todavia" is dedicated to Rafael (Bunbury's brother), who was killed in a bar stabbing, and to road manager Martin, both of whom died in early 1994. This track was never performed live. We have now reached the end of this splendid album, which could not have been celebrated better. "Opio" is an anthem to the flower of "laziness" and reflects Bunbury's particular passion for India and Eastern philosophies (in the previous album, there was a track "Flor de Loto," dedicated to an Indian girl to whom Enrique became godfather during his journey in this splendid country). "La Espuma de Venus" is, in my humble opinion, the masterpiece of "Avalancha" and the best lyrics written by the band. As can be deduced, it is a song inspired by the amorous sphere of "Venus," with a clear reference to the intimate relationship between man and woman, allowing us to daydream with our minds for its six minutes and thirteen seconds of duration. The rest is up to you!
For those who are unfamiliar with the work just reviewed, all that's left is to search for it immediately; you won't be disappointed. It might be the right spark to rediscover a band underrated by many and one that deserves more consideration.
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Deshacer el mundo (04:47)
Empezar porque sí
y acabar no sé cuando
el azul me da cielo
y el iris los cambios
los astros no están más lejos
que los hombres que trato
repito otras voces
que siento como mías
y se encierran en mi cuerpo
con rumor de mar gruesa
Te he dicho que no mires atrás
porque el cielo no es tuyo
y hay que empezar despacio
a deshacer el mundo
El aliento de la tierra
y su calma serena
y la sombra de la tarde
que es una mano que tiembla
la música me abre secretos
que ahora están dentro de mí
al final después de todo
no somos tan distintos
un oasis en desierto
donde queda la paciencia
Te he dicho que no mires atrás
porque el cielo no es tuyo
y hay que empezar despacio
a deshacer el mundo
ponme fuera del alcance
del bostezo universal
nos veremos en el exilio o en una celda
ponme fuera del reposo
en mi historia personal
soy un ave rapaz:
mirad mis alas!
04 Iberia sumergida (05:17)
Amanecí
(I awoke)
con los puños bien cerrados
(with tightly clenched fists)
y la rabia insolente
(and the insolent rage)
de mi juventud.
(of my youth).
La ingenuidad
(ingenuity)
nos absuelve de equivocarnos
(allows us to err)
que cada uno aporte lo que sepa.
(for everyone to tell what they know).
Te hicieron pan
(they turned you to bread)
y ahí te consumimos
(and we consumed you on the spot)
y la venganza es un rastro tan inútil.
(and vengance is a useless piece of junk).
*chorus*
Este es mi sitio
(this is my site)
y esta es mi espina
(and this is my thorn)
iberia sumergida
(iberia submerged)
en sus rumores clandestinos.
(in its clandestine rumors).
Formulas preguntas
(you make questions)
con semillas de respuesta
(with seeds of an answer)
y conozco tu camino de memoria.
(and i know your road by memory).
No creo velar
(i dont believe in keeping a place)
donde la mayoría
(where the majority)
de sus abrazos propietarios
(of its self owned embraces)
sin salida, dan salida.
(without an exit, give an exit).
Ahora que,
(now that)
padeces de insomnio
(you suffer from insomnia)
quisieras morir en siesta.
(you wish you died while resting).
*chorus*
05 Avalancha (05:56)
La locura nunca tuvo maestro
para los que vamos a bogar sin
rumbo perpetuo
en cualquier otra dirección con
tal de no domar los caballos de
la exaltación
la rutina hace sombra a las
pupilas, que se cierran a los
disfrutes que nos quedan
Avalancha * 4
Necesitamos el valioso tiempo
que abandonas sin saber que
cojones hacer con él
nosotros somos la comida y
alguien está efectivamente
hambriento
no hay retorno a la conciencia
tras el desvar?o del amor
tempestuoso
Avalancha... *4
Aún nos quedan cosas por
hacer,
si no das un paso
te estancas
aún nos quedan cosas por decir
y no hablas...
la locura nunca tuvo maestro
para los que vamos a bogar sin
rumbo perpetuo
la muerte será un adorno que
pondrá al regalo de mi vida
la luna ejerce extraños influjos
que se contradicen y no hay
quien descifre
Avalancha * 2
07 Parasiempre (04:05)
no me tienes que impresionar
ni que seguir la corriente
voy a penarme aqui
en la orilla del presente
donde el hombre se asfixia
escribe un testamento en chile negro
el suplicio es estar contigo
eres la alquimia de mi veneno
PUENTE
la derrota no es una opcion
y no hay excusas:
parasiempre me parece mucho tiempo
ESTRIBILLO
parasiempre
no hay nada parasiempre....*2
la influencia de la ira
y los impulsos de la lengua
no tengo toda la vida aun hay cajas con sorpresa
PUENTE
vendre con la boca amarga
y el corazon derrotado....
ESTRIBILLO*2
11 Opio (06:18)
Es el opio la flor de la pereza
hasta que llegó a ser sólo
existencia
el humo de leche muge lento
extendiendo el sabor del
universo
el que nada hace nada teme
y de terrenal sabrás lo celeste
un oscuro derecho a la delicia
será un sueño o será mentira
ESTRIBILLO
Las cosas más triviales se
vuelven fundamentales
eliminando los moldes del azar
como se agita el viento sin
alimento
escucha mi canto abierto de par
en par
ESTROFA 1
Replegado en la madriguera
como un animal acosado
bajo el efecto de la adormidera
y el peso de mis pestañas
ESTRIBILLO
VALS
Esquirlas de aire
arcano indescifrable
en el jardín de mis delicias
pertenezco a la brisa
inhalo la niebla
que flota en el Ganges
el aceite de incienso
nos servirá de consuelo
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