Legend
Bitume, 2026
9/10
The Berlin rockers Cruenta Venganza bring their hard hitting ways to this concept record about Robert Rodriguez’s Machete saga that grabs ahold of you won’t let go.
“5000 Lightyears Away From Home” starts with an ominous mood that burst into thundering riffs and charged drumming, and “Cosmic Outlaw” follows with Steffen’s gruff vocals and Sven’s quick bass playing that suits the thick death metal delivery.
At the halfway point, “Moon Base Massacre” recruits traces of melody amid the dense chugging, while “Space Killer” showcases intricate guitar playing and guest vocals from Klaus Herbert that complements the swirling backdrop and spirited guitar solo.
Residing close to the end, “Time Warp Escape” embraces some old school metal ideas, where a guitar solo from Dr. Lena Böhme won’t go unnoticed, and “Machete Lives” exits with spoken word before the throaty singing and pummeling instrumentation that’s abrasive but still tuneful under the intensity.
This is the final album from the duo, and it brings their Machete themes into more cosmic moments, as the arena sized riffs and onslaught of metal is as ferocious as it is memorable.
Travels well with: Arbre-dieu- Nuit Noire; Superchained- Symbolic