by Christophe Pauly
– Sr. Photojournalist —
Spain is well known for its Flamenco music, but the country has many great talents to discover in other genres. Synlakross, a Death Metal band from Valencia, is one of those groups. The band recently released its second album, Death Bullets For A Forajido.
The band’s debut studio album, Melodichrome, was released in 2013. While many groups struggle to find identities on their first studio albums, Synlakross managed to impose its own take on Death Metal by mixing in plenty of melody with rage.
With the follow-up of Death Bullets For A Forajido, we find that the band has improved upon the debut release. After winning the Granito Rock Festival contest in 2015, Synlakross performed all around Spain, gaining more experience on stage. This album is clearly better, as the band members have matured and honed their musical skills
Synlakross comprises Patricia Pons (singer, lyricist but also the designer for all the artwork of the band); Pablo “Roro” (bassist, main composer); Tiko (drums); Ivan Munoz (lead guitar); and Horacio Bort (rhythm guitar). The brand of Death Metal reflects well-known groups, such as In Flames, Devil Driver and Arch Enemy.
Every member has very good technique, and the band sounds better and seems more confident on this record. While Melodichrome was more experimental, Death Bullets For A Forajido is more constant and has a better production.
Pons has really done a lot of work to master her vocals, and she combines a perfect sweetness with anger and showcases more conviction. The songs are powerful and impressive.
Forajido means outlaw, which symbolizes the theme of this record. Everything, from the lyrics to the artwork, is built around this theme and creates a better and more focused record this time around.
Listening to Death Bullets For A Forajido, you immediately will know how good the band is. Excellent musicianship, cohesiveness and a good vocalist with a lot of charisma contribute to putting Synlakross among the best female-fronted Metal bands in Europe.
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Band:
Patricia Pons- Vocals
Iván Muñoz – Lead Guitar
Horacio Bort – Guitar
Pablo Fuentes- Bass
Tiko Marínez- Drums
Tracklist:
01. Attack On Train
02. Curly Wolves
03. Billy The Kid
04. Death Valley
05. Gold God
06. Just One Shot
07. Shadow Lady
08. Shooting At Dawn
09. Cimarron
10. Bleeding Kansas
Label: Independent
Web: http://www.synlakross.com/#!home/cmvx
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
