Reencarnación (Col) - Reencarnación (888 Metal)

Artist: Reencarnación (Col)
Release Title: Reencarnación (reissue named 888 Metal)
Year: 1987 (reissued in 2015)
Label: Originally self-released/independent (reissue on Nuclear War Now! Productions)
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
Original release
1. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
2. Nexus Universalis
3. Armageddon
4. El Canto de los Sepulcros
5. Puta Religión
6. A la Diestra del Mesías
7. Funeral del Norte
8. Reencarnación (II Parte)

Reissue release:
1. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
2. Nexus Universalis
3. Armageddon
4. El Canto de los Sepulcros
5. Puta Religión
6. A la Diestra del Mesías
7. Funeral del Norte
8. Reencarnación (II Parte)
9. Reencarnación (III Parte)
10. Un Minuto de Vida y un Siglo de Muerte
11. Acompáñame a la Tumba
12. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
13. El Canto de los Sepulcros
14. Armageddon
15. Puta Religión
16. A la Diestra del Mesías
17. Funeral del Norte
18. Acompáñame a la Tumba

The debut full-length from Colombian black/thrashers Reencarnación is certainly an album more renown for it’s historical significance and importance rather than the actual content of the music within. Sloppy, discordant and simply amateurish riffing is the hallmark here all given a raw edge with the low production values in place that really gives the whole affair a ivibe of a garage-level demo recorded without professional equipment in place. There’s no real consistent arrangements on display regardless of how badly-produced it sounds, tending to alter the kind of patterns and paces here into discordant affairs with a choppy structure that radically starts and stops at various points throughout the tracks which makes it seem like they’re conceived right on the spot improvisationally. Other forms of discordant patterns emerge through the use of obscure arrangements and segments placed here that slow the material down into a series of sprawling tempos that are just lethargic and plodding or featuring unusual instrumentation with classical violin pieces from that are just out-of-place and wholly disjointed against the thrashing elsewhere. On the whole the music here is not that good being too sloppy or amateurish to really make an impression.

The first half here demonstrates what’s on display here nicely, even if the songs generally aren’t. Intro ‘Reencarnación (888 Metal)’ takes a stuttering series of start/stop riffing and pounding drum-work into a fine series of sloppy raging rhythms full of discordant riffing over clattering drumming and frequent tempo changes full of schizophrenic patterns raging along into the final half for a decent enough opener. ‘Nexus Universalis’ features a staggering, discordant series of riffing into a loose series of blackened thrashing with plenty of loose, sprawling riffing alongside the raging drumming taking along a steady mid-tempo attack featuring lethargic rhythms and discordant notes through the finale for an overall disappointing and bland effort. ‘Armageddon’ uses a stuttering series of discordant riffing with a series of bland plodding drumming over sampled effects dragging the pacing down with sprawling, droning riff-work leading into the series of frantic riff-work and urgent blasting drumming coming through the final half for a wasted first part yet enjoyable second part. ‘El Canto de los Sepulcros’ features a series of swirling riffing and clattering rhythms slowly galloping along into a series of discordant rhythms featuring wild schizophrenic patterns charging along with the swirling riffs churning throughout the extended thrashing of the final half makes this the album’s highlight without much difficulty.

The second half is again a rather weak and overall disappointing part of the album. The minute-long instrumental ‘Puta Religión’ features simple drumming and celestial keyboards creating a localized, haunting landscape over the tolling bell-strikes and monster growls for a totally useless mid-album breather. ‘A la Diestra del Mesías’ features stuttering and discordant riffing along with plenty of pounding drumming into a series of blasting drum-work and plenty of sloppy riffing thrashing through stuttering tempos littered with savage, choppy drumming leading into the final half for a decent-enough if rather problematic effort. ‘Funeral del Norte’ uses a sharp series of swirling thrashing riff-work and clattering drumming working through a series of stuttering tempos and discordant pattern riffing with the raw rhythms taking the chaotic energy along with more choppy, stuttering rhythms along through the finale for another somewhat enjoyable effort. Lastly, the epic album-closer ‘Reencarnación (II Parte)’ uses classical violins alongside rattling drumming and stuttering riffing with plenty of staggered rhythms and plodding paces that bring the utterly sloppy rhythms along through the violin pieces and the extended, sprawling tempos full of clattering rhythms for another disappointing effort that ends this on a rather disappointing note.

Even though it’s one of the most important and respected album in the South American extreme metal scene, there’s just not a whole lot on display here that’s really appealing and ends up leaving this one only for the most devout and impassioned fans of that style with this particular version of the release being the one to get should that be desired.

Score: 35/100

Does it sound good? Order the reissue here:
http://www.nwnprod.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28&products_id=19045&zenid=ae16d24e3900c260fd2ca164b9970bcc