REVIEW: MÄGO DE OZ - FINISTERRA

 

MÄGO DE OZ - FINISTERRA (Locomotive Music, 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Estudios Box, Madrid, España.

Produced and mixed by Goyo Esteban

Mastered in Masterphonics, London

Cover Art: Gaboni

Track List:

CD 1: 1-Prólogo, 2-Satania, 3-La cruz de Santiago, 4-La danza del fuego, 5-Hasta que el cuerpo aguante, 6-El señor de los gramillos, 7-Polla dura no cree en Dios, 8-Maite Zaitut, 9-Duerme..., 10-Es hora de Marchar

CD 2: 1-Fiesta Pagana, 2-El que quiera entender que entienda, 3-Los renglones torcidos de Dios, 4-Kelpie, 5-Tres tristes Tigres, 6-A Costa da Morte, 7-La Santa Compaña, 8-Conxuro, 9-Astaroth, 10-Finisterra

A child´s voice talking about certain not so good charachteristics of humanity and the sound of a bagpipe start this Finisterra CD. Mago de Oz is a metal band from Spain with great arrangements in their music and with extensive use of instruemnts that are not so common in metal bands like violins, bagpipes, flutes, etc. This double studio CD is a masterpiece that will people that think that heavy/power metal is a stagnant genre. Here, apart from the obvious influences that any heavy metal band has there are melodies that have some oriental touches and some flamenco, gypsy and spanish music too. The more similar band that I can relate them to is Skyclad (eventhough Mago de Oz is completely different in their approach to music than this band). There are calm moments like on the beginning of "La Danza del Fuego" and faster songs and this makes the twenty tracks contained here really easy to listen and not boring. It is really interesting also, how this guys can touch really actual themes in their lyrics making a history through all the album. Really sarcastic lyrics to refer to modern problems along with certain defects that a lot of people have in their minds and souls. Favorite tracks: "La Cruz de Santiago", "Hasta que el cuerpo aguante" and "Los renglones torcidos de Dios". Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com .