Album Review by Mark Bayross
The fact that Breed 77 come from London by way of Gibraltar, a tiny remnant of the British Empire that is hardly famous for musical exports, may allow them to draw a degree of interest, but on the strength of this release, their second album proper, they deserve a higher profile on merit alone.
Like Ill Niňo, Sepultura and System Of A Down before them, Breed 77 have injected a dose of ethnicity into their pit-friendly rock – flamenco guitars and snatches of Moorish wailing jostle for space among thunderous riffing and vintage Metallica solos, often to devastating effect (see INDIVIDUO, WORLD’S ON FIRE and CALLING OUT for starters).
Lead singer Paul Isola’s creditable Layne Staley impression may suit the current trend for all things Alice In Chains in the metal world, but the vocal pyrotechnics on tracks like the bruising EYES THAT SEE demonstrate a versatility to match his adrenalised guitarists.
Last year’s thunderous single LA ULTIMA HORA contrasts nicely with the recent slow-burner-to-string-laden-epic THE RIVER, while the few dodgy moments (such as the suspect whiff of Nickelback on NUMB) are more than outweighed by the superb ones (the frankly brilliant flamenco-Tool-meets-Neurosis collision of ORACION FINAL) and the overall quality on offer here.
Immediate, melodic, powerful stuff. Very highly recommended.
