Year: 2022
Label: Nube Negra Prods
Rating: 8,7 / 10
There has long been a concept of "soul" around art, which I certainly do not deny, but most often perceive skeptically. For most commoners, "soulfulness" has a lot to do with childhood memories and the old-fashioned “it used to be better 20/30/40 years ago” attitude. In music, soulfulness for many means the presence of certain melodic parameters, enthusiasm, emotionality - that is, things that are not yet sublime by themselves.
But in very rare cases, it really happens that all of the above is mixed properly, as in that alchemical pot, and that very soul appears among the vapors. This happened with the debut album of the Chilean project VÓRTIZE, which was founded by Javier Ortiz from the bands DEMONIAC, OLDEATH, TERROR STRIKE.
To be honest, this is a real miracle. A man almost alone created an album where there is a twin guitar attack, a clear classical rhythm section, a variety of vocals and other characteristic features of noble, skillful Heavy Metal from bands where 5-6 participants usually play. Of course, there are guest musicians here, but their contribution is quite small - several solo parts and female vocals. Javier did everything else on his own. “¡Tienes que luchar!” is Of course, there are guest musicians here, but their contribution is quite small - several solo parts and female vocals. Javier did everything else on his own. “¡Tienes que luchar!” very melodic album, but this is old melodiousness, that came from the very dawn of the 80s, when Heavy Metal had just broken away from the boring legacy of hard rock and discovered gallop and fast playing. The same can be said about the sound, 100% analog and underground, in the style of old reel tape albums.
Above it all, it is smeared with a thick layer of classical metal romance, which is five times enhanced by the use of the Spanish language. I believe that all metal bands should throw away this stupid fucking conception of English being a language of metal and use their native language, as this always adds sincerity and vivacity. If you haven't heard Spanish-language Heavy Metal before, then"¡Tienes que luchar!" will convincingly prove that this ardent language is perfect for the genre. But, in my opinion, the main feature of the album is, of course, the guitar parts and solos. This is something amazing. Heavy Metal traditionally has a "verse-refrain-verse-refrain-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-solo-chorus" scheme, or, alternatively, a meaningless "virtuoso" guitar masturbation of dubious value. VÓRTIZE responds to this with its own formula. Javier doesn't seem to have any scheme at all, and he builds the framework of compositions intuitively, listening to his heart. He has guitar solos almost everywhere. Their number is incalculable, and it works unexpectedly great. We are all used to the fact that a solo is the culmination of a song, and talented bands like ARIA create it, based on the riffs that sounded before. But when there are too many solo parts, the sense of contrast is lost, and the songs turn into wankery. VÓRTIZE surprisingly managed to jump somewhere between the two options – perhaps because his solos fully correspond to the nature of the songs and are not too intense and technical, but deeply thought-through – again, intuitively, heartfelt – and also harmonious and well-coordinated.
The album has other distinctive features -for example, light samples, accordion and banjo (?) parts. Or an absolutely unique solo in the first song, consisting of ... whistling. In Belarusian literary studies, there is a constant theme of traditions and innovation in a certain period or the work of some author - well, using “¡Tienes que luchar!” as an example, you can write a study on traditions and innovation in Heavy Metal. After all, this album is 100% traditional, but even world-renowned stars will envy the boldness of its creative solutions. And, going back to where I started this review: yes, “¡Tienes que luchar!” has a soul. One minute of the first song is enough to understand this.
English (UK) 
Крыўская