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THE REVIEW
Explosive debut for Ill Nino, who with this Revolution/Revolucion blend violence, melody, and Latin American influences in 13 songs. The band, founded by Dave Chavarri (former drummer of Soulfly), hails from New Jersey, but they have Latin blood pumping in them. They are six members strong and are produced by Road Runner (the same label as Slipknot). Their sound, as already mentioned, is a nu metal devoted to alternating violence, powerful riffs, and fierce screams with good melodies, all mixed with tribal percussion akin to Puya or Sepultura, electronics, and naturally, hip hop, creating a deadly mix to say the least. Much of the credit for this goes to singer Cristian Machado, whose voice transitions from calm moments to true screams of rage, although, in my opinion, they are somewhat overly filtered. This alternation of American and Latin sounds is also noticeable in the lyrics, obviously sung in English but that in some instances also present some inflection towards the South American "mother tongue.”
I must admit that Revolution/Revolucion immediately struck me, right from the first listen. Indeed, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the rage of tracks such as "God Save Us," "If You Still Hate Me," "No Murder," "Revolution Revolucion," "Nothing's Clear," and "Liar," where aggression dominates (though there are still isolated melodic parts). Their Latin pride is especially recognized in "Rumba," where they encourage dancing the typical Cuban dance, and in "I'm Loco," where there's a more substantial use of electronics. There are also moments where melody prevails and the compositions are a bit softer, such as in "Predisposed" and the beautiful "What Comes Around," also released as a single. Surprising and disorienting is the final track, "With You," a sweet ballad played only with acoustic guitars and percussion, with a very folk-Latin flavor.
In essence, a great album (at least in my opinion...), aggressive and fierce, but also melodic just enough; sure, they haven't invented anything new, but it must be admitted that this album is played very well.
If you like bands like Sepultura, Soulfly, and Puya, then you definitely need to have it!
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Summary by Bot
Ill Niño’s debut album Revolution/Revolución is a powerful fusion of nu metal intensity and Latin American rhythms. Produced by Road Runner, the band skillfully blends fierce riffs, tribal percussion, and melodic passages. Vocalist Cristian Machado’s dynamic voice adds raw emotion, while tracks like “God Save Us” and “Rumba” showcase their unique style. The album balances aggression with melody, making it a standout debut for fans of bands like Sepultura and Soulfly.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Ill Niño
Ill Niño is a metal band formed in 1999 in New Jersey, known for blending nu metal with Latin/tribal percussion and Latin rock elements. Reviews highlight the group’s South American-rooted identity, prominent percussion work, and a shift across albums toward more melodic, single-friendly structures while retaining heavy riffs.12 Reviews
Other reviews
By Er Ribelle
A good level of production is not enough to validate a band’s offering.
Too much canonicity that - after several listens - causes mental states very close to 'nu-tribal-boredom.'
By BrianCrow
This is perhaps the most experimental album by the group, where the melodies are based on very simple yet captivating chords.
The genre is based on a Nu-Metal/Tribal style, where powerful distortions merge with Latin percussion, or bongos.
By Brizz89
Ill Nino is a rather interesting band, capable of carefully blending Nu Metal elements with tribal elements.
Revolution/Revolución, a stunning piece, highlights the band’s whole quality by combining all the elements that distinguish them into a complete and very interesting song.
