(Porta Wesfalica, Germany) – Latin Metal?
American metal band Ill Niño, founded in New Jersey in 1993, have chalked up over 3.5 million in worldwide sales; the latest of their 7 studio albums, ‘TILL DEATH, LA FAMILLA’ was released last year under their current label Victory Records.
At the moment the band are on their ‘Blood is Thicker’ European festival tour. I met up with them at Festivalkult in Germany where they were headlining on Saturday night. The night before they had played Waken Open Air, Germanys famous metal festival. A quick search on the internet produces evidence that they had gone down a storm but I wasn’t too sure how tonight would compare for them?
Festivalkult, now in it’s 40th year, is one of Germany’s many free music festivals that manages to attract some major artists and at the same time provide a platform for local talent (of which there is many) to prove themselves. I still can’t work out the economics of how you put on a free festival on this scale but there is a model here that other European countries would do well to take note of.
It was a cracking summer Saturday and the crowd had been growing throughout the day, each act being treated to a bigger audience. By the time Ill Niño came around it was dark and shoulder to shoulder room only. Estimates putting number at around 5000, I personally think you could add at least 50% to that.
Opening with ‘If You Still Hate Me’ the Latin drum beats were immediately evident. The band then issued a full statement of intent with ‘Te Amo – I Hate you’ and the crowd reciprocated. Headlong into, Epedimia, I am Loco, Alibi of Tyrants, all at full volume. I have always said that presence plays a huge part of any bands success on a live stage. With their ‘never stand still’ performance and an obvious affinity with each other Ill Niño owned the stage and quickly worked the crowd into a mass of movement.
From an outsiders point of view Metal with a Latin influence may sound an unusual combo and perhaps it shouldn’t work, but by God it does. I got everything from Samba beats and Santana riffs to real honest loud and proud metal. The German crowd were treated to the full greatest hits tour and they loved it. Having a prime view from backstage I could see everyone from those against the barrier at the front to those at the very back, heads moving, hands punching the air and, those that knew the words, screaming along. During the show lead singer Cristian Machado asked the crowd how many folk had “Never Fucking Heard of Ill Niño?”…….Those that hadn’t certainly have now. The bands German family has expanded exponentially.
For me, this was something new and something exciting from a band that I want to see again. Not a metal fan? No bother, for a quick taste of what you can expect from Ill Niño give ‘This is War’ a go. Get along and see them, you won’t be disappointed.
Latin Metal, hell yes!!!
9/10
My thanks to Roger Smith and Tom Wojcik at Victory Records for their assistance.
Set List
If You Still Hate Me
Te Amo…I Hate You
This Is War
La Epidemia
I Am Loco
Corazón of Mine
Live Like There’s No Tomorrow
How Can I Live
My Resurrection
The Alibi of Tyrants
God Save Us
What Comes Around
Cleansing
Liar
Ill Niño are:
LEAD VOCALS – CRISTIAN MACHADO
DRUMS – DAVE CHAVARRI
BASS – LAZ PINA
LEAD GUITAR – AHRUE LUSTER
RHYTHM GUITAR – DIEGO VERDUZCO
PERCUSSION – OSCAR SANTIAGO
Web: http://www.illnino.com/
Facebook: Officialillnino
Twitter: @officialillnino
© 2015. All photos are copyrighted. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
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