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Rating: Are they similar to Disturbed? Absolutely not. Anything in common with Staind? Only a fundamentally melancholic sound. Are they the “anti Static-x”? Maybe so, but in my opinion, the latter are considerably inferior. (Ready to receive criticism). Who am I talking about? About "Ill Nino", a decidedly unique band.
Before discussing their album, it's necessary to highlight the characteristics of this band. It would be enough to talk about their origins to understand that they are an out-of-the-ordinary group, because as their name suggests, they have little to do with the USA, only 1 member out of 6 is American, and incidentally, he is of Italian origin! As for the rest, Brazilian and Peruvian nationalities.
THE HISTORY:
Thanks to their origins, El Nino (this was the band's first name), managed to fuse classic nu metal with Latin rock and with sounds typically spread in Latin American culture, in fact, the band includes a percussionist, Danny Couto. This introduction is necessary for those unfamiliar with the band and for those who might be shocked reading: degenerate metal. "Confession" is the second work of the band led by Cristian Machado (vocals) and founded in 1999 by the Italo-Peruvian Dave Chavarri (drums). The CD dates back to 2003 following the previous "Revolution Revolucion" from 2001. Reading many reviews about this band, I have observed several concerns regarding "Confession", many describing it as too commercial (even here on Debaser). It may be so, but one should not underestimate the quality of this LP, which has nothing to envy neither from the previous work nor from the subsequent "One Nation Underground", on the contrary...
CONFESSION:
It has a rather intricate structure, with very distinct tracks yet with an evident connection, and the lyrics are almost entirely focused on the complex relationship with love. Unsurprisingly, the first track is titled “Te Amo-I Hate You” to testify to the complexity of the lyrics written by C. Machado. It's a very strong track, which in my opinion seems to belong more to "Revolution Revolucion" than to "Confession", because the sound is very powerful, like in few other songs of the album. “How Can I Live” is the first step toward a sonic revolution of the Latin band. The rhythms are more delicate, yet the melody remains always overwhelming, and the chorus is very Latin and catchy. One of the best tracks on the album. The third piece is “Two(Vada Con Dios)” which reflects more than anything the raw spirit of “Te Amo”. Rough sound yet immediate at the same time. The following trio of songs represents the highest point of the album; “Unframed”, “Cleansing”, and “This Time’s For Real” are delightful to say the least, with high tempos, reflective lyrics, and enchanting melodies. “Unframed” is a track with a "Staind effect", reminiscent of the sound of Aaron Lewis's band.
The following “Lifeless... Life...” brings the band back to a more rugged, less Latin, and more metal sound. Perhaps foreshadowing the next “Numb” which apart from having a sound too unusual for the band (a very light base and slightly “pop” melodies), is characterized by a splendid "Latin guitar" solo at the end and high-level riffs. “Have You Ever Felt?” is frankly too commercial, while the following “When It Cuts” and “Letting Go” bring the listener back to Earth, reminding them that "Ill Nino" is always a metal band. Excellent “All The Right Words”; in this song, C. Machado is very reminiscent of J. Davis and the rhythms and solos are in full Korn style. To close the album there are “Re-Birth”, which is purely Latin-Metal, and the stunning Spanish version of “How Can I Live”, in my opinion composed to emphasize that they are and will remain Latinos, almost to reiterate that the life of luxury and success “made in USA” does not belong to them.
COMMENT:
In conclusion, I would like to say that this album too has flaws, for instance, the lyrics, as I have already pointed out, are monothematic, sometimes the bases are too similar to each other, and finally, but this is just a personal opinion, I would have preferred a Portuguese version and not a Spanish one of “How Can I Live”, since they are mostly Brazilian! (3 out of 6). Well, they might have chosen Spanish to make the piece more accessible to people, a choice, that of the album's “commercialization”, which characterized the entire album. I recommend it to all metal lovers, but even those who are big fans of Carlos Santana should get this CD; (Just don’t be scared)!
“Confession” and more generally “El Nino” represent the REVOLUCION of Metal. Truly very good.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 How Can I Live (03:16)
I am so unlike you in so many ways
I know I'm just a copy that carries on the stain
But we make the same mistake
Cuz we are one and the same
But we leave behind the stain
That cannot seperate
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
I am your mirror image of all you left behind
You made me what I am and who the hell am I?
But we make the same mistake
Cuz we are one and the same
But we leave behind the stain
That cannot seperate
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
Why, yo no entiendo porque
I know that our lives are the same
Y mi vida is just a guessing game
A dirty stain that I cannot play
But I follow your steps
In the same way that you just
Walked away and pushed away
The fact that I will not live
Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you
Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
03 Two (Vaya con Dios) (03:23)
You think you're so right
You think you know that
You think you know this
You think you know everything
You take advantage
You take for granted
You think we're friends
But I can say we're not
When will this shit ever end?
This is not cool
I can't undo
It's OK cause
You didn't have what it takes
To roll with
All the punches
So much nonsense
Yo te conozco
We showed you how to fight
Brought you two, the light
Taught you what was wrong
And the things that were right
Both of you believe
That your shit doesn't stink
All I ask is
When will this shit ever end?
We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right
You're so pure
YOu're so immature
I think I know you
I think I hate you
The little putos
That think they chulo
I want to see you
Weasel your way in
But we showed you how to fight
Brought you two, the light
Taught you what was wrong
And the things that were right
Both of you believe
That your shit doesn't stink
All I ask is
When will this shit ever end?
We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right
(I thought that we were friends)
I thought that we were friends
I thought we were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right
Yo te conozco
When will this shit ever end?
We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right
(I thought that we were friends)
I thought we were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right
04 Unframed (03:22)
I'm feeling like I don't belong
I remember when we spoke back then
I was cold and insincere
I was just nineteen and so naive
And didn't care what you feel
Now I see
My father's one and only
Call is what could have saved me
I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed (2x)
She never framed you
I can't place the blame, you gave her pain
But she lied to me for years
Though she gave me life, I wonder why
She never even feared
That I would
Grow up so self-destructive
Fucked up and indecisive
I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed
I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never
You were not there
You did not care
I'm not myself
I need to get my life
I need to take my life back (3x)
I've seen your face in pictures unframed
I've seen your face in pictures unframed
I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed (2x)
That never were framed
Who am I?
Who am I?
Today
05 Cleansing (03:45)
From guilt to dust
You think that I don't want to hate you
I know that I never did like you
This is not another passing phase
But I can see your face
But when shit will finally break me
Persistent in trying to get me
El fuego que quema adentro
Gets to my head
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
You think that you're so much like me
But you will not ever remind me
Of everything that I cannot embrace
But I can see your face
I'm trying to never remember
I'm trying to not point the finger
El fuego que quemo adentro
Gets to my head
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
This is not a passing phase
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
This is not a passing phase
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
06 This Time's for Real (03:27)
Why do you tell me all these lies?
I just want to live my life
I don't want to leave my dreams behind
Tell me
Why am I only getting older?
My patience getting shorter
I'm running out of time
And I hope that I get what I wanted
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
Why do you make me feel denied?
Always pushing me aside
You do not decide what's wrong or right
Tell me
Why am I feeling so much pressure?
Am I searching for the answer?
I'm running out of time
And I hope that I get what I wanted
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
07 Lifeless... Life... (02:48)
Yo no entiendo lo que es
Everything is just a haze
Yo no entiendo lo que es
Everything is just a haze
I just need
I just need to become your disease
I could be
I could be all that you will believe
I will freeze
I will freeze and distort all your dreams
You will feed
You will feed enough to never get away
I make you feel like yourself
Don't think of asking for help
Just stay
I will take you away
My drug is everything I wanted her to be
She helps me deal and run away from life
I couldn't cope and wouldn't even try
When the well's running dry
That is how I was meant to be
Is it me? Everything that you need is in me
I could be
I could be all that you will believe
I will turn
I will turn you so numb and so cold
You will feed
You will feed enough to never get away
I make you feel like yourself
Don't think of asking for help
Just stay
I will take you away
My drug is everything I wanted her to be
She helps me deal and run away from life
I couldn't cope and wouldn't even try
When the well's running dry
My drug is everything I want it to be
I never thought that I'd be down here begging, down on my knees
But hey, it's my life and I think it's not funny
I chose it myself and that's all that you owe me
For life, life, life, life, life, life, life...lifeless...
Life, life, life, life, life
My drug is everything I want it to be
I never thought that I'd be down here begging, down on my knees
But hey, it's my life and I think it's not funny
I chose myself and that's all that you owe me
For life, life, life, life, life, life, life...lifeless...
Life...lifeless, life...lifeless, life
When the world's running dry
08 Numb (04:06)
I loved you
You were all that I wanted
Then, I watched you
Turn into someone else
Well I'm sick of the fighting
I'm sick of just blaming myself
Well I'm sick of escaping
I'm sick of erasing
Your face and the places
That give me a trace to you
But I will never find you
I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you
I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you
Well if I can deceive you
Then why can't I leave you alone
Well if everything's painful
Then why do I wait for
Your face or the place
That will give me a trace to you
But I will never find you
I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you
I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you
Siento el amor
Siento el dolor
Siento el amor
Siento el calor
Siento el amor
Siento el dolor
But I will never find you
I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you
I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you
10 When It Cuts (02:47)
I cannot justify your envy
But I will be understanding when you stay
Then I will satisfy you in every (way)
But I'm not feeling coherent when you say
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again
Again
Though I'm right, I don't think I'll win this fight
But I'm trying though it's ripping me inside
Just in case that I'm taking up your space
I'll be feeling too, whatever's left inside
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again
I can't go on
I'm not that strong
I'm so alone
You just gotta set me free
I'm still living day, no way
I don't care what you say
Your eyes dispise my lies
Just say goodbye
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again
Again, again
Waste your breath
12 All the Right Words (04:08)
I can smell the way you taste
I chase every breath you take
And I'll wait
Why would I deny?
I don't have to lie
Was there something that I missed?
Well it's not this
All you say is that I'm playing games
But if I stay, I'll just go crazy
Throw away the promise that you made
And understand
I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
You move how I want you to
You prove I belong to you
And I do
Why would I deny?
I don't have to lie
Was there something that I missed?
Well it's not this
All you say is that I'm playing games
But if I say, I'll just go crazy
Throw away the promise that you made
And understand
I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care
But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care
But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care
I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you
13 Re-Birth (02:53)
Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig
Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig
Sucker, nothing left to lose
Nothing left to choose
And suffer, everything you do comes back
And
Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me
Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me
Then, I was only just a boy
Dying young and growing old
But I know what I knew was wrong
My whole family lied to me
By their rules, I cannot be
Led by the lies out of my face
Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me
Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me
Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be
Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me
Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me
And if you think you got the answer
Well think again 'cause you know
Better than this yourself
So ask that question to yourself
So ask yourself just who you are
Where you've been
What you know
Where you'll go
Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me
Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me
Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be
Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be
Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig
Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig
Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig
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Other reviews
By StefanoHab
"Ill Niño is much more accessible than before: not that this is necessarily a fault; in fact, the band has matured significantly and has created an album full of great songs."
"Outbursts akin to Machine Head, radio-friendly melodies, pure underground nu-metal, tribal rhythms, excellent technical and vocal performance, and an almost perfect production is what you’ll find on the album."
By Daddi89
From the first listen it provokes many sensations in me... the album seems much more detailed compared to the previous one.
'Numb' is the song that is worth the whole album in my opinion, a true masterpiece.
By Thoughtless
A truly original band that has managed to blend the sounds of Metal with Latin Rock.
"How Can I Live" completely synthesizes the content of the new work of the group with great rhythm and melodic/angry singing.
