Many Western metal fans are familiar with the concept of Latin American metal thanks to Brazilian band Sepultura and its hit record Roots. However Roots and other albums by the band were missing one Latin element: the Portuguese language (Sepultura is from Brazil). A lack of Spanish-language and Portuguese-language records inspired the band's guitarist, Andreas Kisser, as well as Maná drummer Alex González to begin a new metal project that goes back to their first languages. That band became De La Tierra
"The whole idea of doing a heavy band in Spanish alone was amazing for me," Kisser said. "Brazil is too far away from the rest of Latin America basically because of Portuguese. They are close geographically but very different. It's really cool to have the possibility to show that we have a lot more in common than it appears."
The band also includes bassist Sr. Flavio from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, an Argentine ska/reggae band, and Andrés Giménez, vocalist and guitarist from Argentine groove-metal band A.N.I.M.A.L. Maná is a band from a more popular rock background, but González said that he always enjoyed listening to heavy metal.
"I always grew up listening to all types of music," he said. "Hard rock and heavy metal were something I always really loved."
The band will release its debut album, yet untitled, will drop during November, but the band released its debut single on Monday. The track, titled "Maldita Historia," includes a video depicting the band in the studio preparing the song.
