We know that older styles of rock/metal become new in nature roughly every 15-20 years or so. Must be a generational exposure thing. Latin metal act Saint Diablo from Virginia embrace a mix of classic nu / groove metal influences while exemplifying a bit of the modern electronic/cyber nuances that keep this style interesting on their latest effort The Reckoning. Where the five-piece place dynamic contrasts at times next to the regular aggressive proceedings also allows them to stand apart from the crowd – as you’ll hear everything from quick hitting flamenco acoustic guitar action all the way through to Spanish-language tracks next to English material to hopefully create deeper cultural connections.
Of the four tracks, three are studio cuts while the closer “Odio” is a live rendition of a Saint Diablo audience favorite recorded in a show in their home state. Opener “Cosmic Inferno” starts vocally from whispers to screams before the stunted, metalcore-ish riffs and explosive snare/double kick action kicks the song into full-on explosive mode, incorporating aspects of Soulfly, Trivium, and of course classic Slipknot. Most will be hard pressed not to be swept up in the forceful swinging mid-tempo grooves next to the clean to militant vocals from Tito Quinones for “Voice on the Phone”, the extra layer of percussion/auxiliary drums with Awesome Ray Ray complimentary to the normal kit duties Anthony San Pietro provides. “Dame Todo” wastes no time in shifting through its English to Spanish verses and choruses, made seamless by a solid main riff foundation that mirrors the kinetic nature to the hooks – everything has it’s place, even when the softer transitions lead to a solid singalong chorus. In just under 14 minutes, you’ll feel exhilarated and probably clamoring for the next full-length this group delivers.
Musicians these days seem to be getting even better about the natural development of various influences to achieve styles or sounds that slowly differentiate them from the pack. Saint Diablo organically transmits the best aspects of modern metalcore, groove metal, and nu-metal with a Latin flair through The Reckoning – and should be able to capture a wide range of followers due to the quality put forth.