Breed 77 - Cultura (2004)

As is probably apparent from this website, I’m not overly concerned with post-1990s rock, indeed my overriding interest is in the ‘classic’ 1970s-1980s period which I believe saw the genre at its most creative and inventive. However, on recommendation I gave Breed 77’s 2004 release Cultura a listen and was pleasantly surprised. The album is both heavy and contemporary-sounding but also a little bit different from the norm which appealed.

The band are from Gibraltar and have developed an interesting mix of Spanish scales and structures with System Of A Down style in your face heaviness: no mean feat!

The album opens with Voices, a powerful opener in a fairly straight rock style with only the scale used for the guitar solo belying the bands flamenco influences. Track 2, Individuo, is an all-out rock belter too – uptempo and loud!

La Ultima Hora features flamenco guitar throughout the verse with the bridge and chorus being out and out rock riffing. A Matter Of Time features a slightly retro riff, which is great, and World’s Of Fire features some good harmony guitar work.

The River opens with Spanish guitar and occupies the more anthemic ballad rock style as the rest of the band kick-in. Good light and shade is apparent on the album however, with The Only Ones opening with a sledgehammer riff and some nice percussive touches from Óscar Preciado Zamora.

Resurrection, once more, opens with a Spanish guitar ‘riff’ which returns throughout before the album mellows with Numb, an acoustic guitar and vocal track that rests the ears well before Calling Out which is a thunderous track played with a real sense of urgency.

Eyes That See is a somewhat ‘filler’ number but things really pick up for Oracion Final which begins with a syncopated Spanish guitar riff and drum pattern and is sung in Spanish. The conversion of the ‘flamenco’ riff to electric guitar riff works well and the track moves back and forth between acoustic and electric guitar.

The final track is an acoustic version of Breaking The Silence – the original appearing on their debut album in 2005: Breed 77. As you would expect, there’s some neat flamenco runs in here too.

Whilst a marriage of styles I’d never have envisaged, flamenco and metal works very well and Breed 77 use it wisely and don’t overplay the Spanish influence to the point of it becoming a novelty act. The band are very heavy in part but have the musical nous to appreciate that track after track of blunt power can become dull and vary the intensity and approach from track to track, and within tracks, giving variety and something new to the listener.

If you’re into your Korn, System Of A Down, Linkin’ Park and . . . erm, Paco de Lucía – or feel like hearing something a little bit different from the norm – this is the album for you!

• Paul Isola – Vocals
• Danny Felice – Guitar
• Stuart Cavilla – Bass
• Pedro Caparros López – Guitar
• Óscar Preciado Zamora – Drums