ILL NIÑO - One Nation Underground
Album Reviews

ILL NIÑO – One Nation Underground

Who’d a thought that there would be a band that sounded like a mix of Linkin Park and Sepultura? Not many! Especially not one that mixes these two bands up with angry Spanish lyrics, Santana-sounding guitars, and Latino rhythms. Sound exciting? Well, then you should give Ill Niño a try! It’s rare to see a band come up with this kind of mixed music, but just by looking on their Web site makes it easy to see why. These guys’ heritage comes from all over, but most of them are born in South-America and live in the USA. Succeeding in making their music so modern is even more rare. A lot of bands have tried, but they fail so miserably. This is not the case with Ill Niño. This is Ill Niño’s third full-length album with Roadrunner Records, and it seems this third record has made the band dig deep within themselves to find the music from their hearts. The production in itself is good, so too has the marketing of the band. They already have a hit single played on the radio called “What You Deserve.” You might have heard it, and thought it was a new song by Linkin Park, but it’s just Ill Niño biting their ass … and a good thing for Ill Niño and fans is that they have an album full of Modern Metal with songs that stand out, just like “What You Deserve.” This album actually never gets boring, because of the mixed elements they have brought into it… unusual elements like bongo drums, the mix of English and Spanish voices, and not to forget the incredible voice of Cristian Machado, who has the ability to go from a soft Nu Metal sound, almost like Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), to hard, raw screaming …READ MORE

ILL NIÑO - Confession
Album Reviews

ILL NIÑO – Confession

Ill Niño’s latest release, Confession, plays like singer and lyricist Christian Machado’s personal expulsion of demons. In a large section of popular rock/metal, there is a whining movement going on. For some reason, kids dig hearing songs saying “I’m the victim, feel bad for me!” Bands like Papa Roach exemplify this piffle with their “Last Resort,” and all the new pop-punk bands singing about how their daddy was mean to them carries the whimpering flag along with faux moxie. Somehow, Ill Niño does the same thing without pandering or seeming contrived, and also throw together an album that will surprise people who disdain popular metal … ‘cuz it’s good. “Te Amo … I Hate You,” is your average “girl, you done wrong by me, and I’m hurting.” Of course, the lyrics don’t quite go that way. Machado pens a more concise and brutal sentiment with, “Don’t try—telling all your fucking lies. ‘Cause I—make you eat your words and die.” Machado’s voice branches out to an almost death metal ledge on this tune, but his normal excessively calm, fluid and melodic delivery is the highpoint of the song during the chorus. And the belting out of “fuck you!” doesn’t hurt things. “How Can I Live,” initially released on the Jason vs. Freddy soundtrack, encapsulates the overall Ill Niño sound. Lyrically, you cannot find fault with the subject matter or skill of the writing. Sometimes, words are just words, sometimes, they are poetry. “I know I’m just a copy that carries on the stain … but we make the same mistake … cuz we are one and the same,” falls into the latter category. Coupled with the poignant chorus, which by now you’ve probably heard a million times, you’ll hear a band finding and defining their sound. Just a great tune. Going …READ MORE