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CABALLERO “Caballero”
CABALLERO “Caballero”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Hola, CABALLERO! Where are you conquistadors from? Spain? Mexico? Puerto Rico? Would you believe FINLAND?!
Yep, these true metal hombres are from the Land of a Thousand Lakes and they play epic traditional metal that is very much inspired by the likes of MANILLA ROAD, CIRITH UNGOL, TYRANT, OMEN and the like. Well, that is right in my wheelhouse. For the most part, CABALLERO achieve what they’re after...but there’s one really big stumbling block that hurts them bad.
It’s not the rough production. And yes, it is VERY raw, reminding me a lot of obscure singles from the NWOBHM era from the likes of CRUCIFIXION, SPARTAN WARRIOR and very early GRIM REAPER. If you’re used to modern production, it might come as a shock. But for old metal dogs such as myself, it kind of enhances the charm of the material. I can’t complain too much about the songwriting here, as tracks like “Caballero”, “Sorcery Above the Lake of the Water Dog” and “La Noche Triste” have the kind of doom-tinged galloping epic metal these three amigos are aiming for. I say “doom-tinged” because the songs are kind of dark, but they don’t have the plod of true doom.
What hurts this band are the sub-standard vocals of one Aguirre. At their best, they are average. And at their worst, they actively hinder the enjoyment of otherwise good tracks. Take “The Lord of the Day And the Winds”, for example...the guy doesn’t even sound like he’s trying to be good. Some of those old NWOBHM singers had this kind of sloppiness as well. Maybe they were shooting for “charming nostalgia”. They missed the mark. CABALLERO needs a new singer quick and Aguirre...at least as far as his vocals go...should be set afloat on the Amazon with a raft full of monkeys.
The vocals hurt but don’t totally destroy “Caballero”. I suspect MANILLA ROAD and CIRITH UNGOL fans will still enjoy it. But there is sure room for improvement.
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