Brujeria (band)

Brujeria
Background information
Origin	Tijuana, Mexicali, Mexico[1][2][3][4]
Genres	Death metal, grindcore, deathgrind
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Koolarrow Records, Roadrunner
Associated acts	Asesino, Carcass, Cradle of Filth, At the Gates, Dimmu Borgir, Faith No More, Fear Factory, The Haunted, Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, United Forces
Website	www.brujeria.com
Members	Juan Brujo Pinche Peach Fantasma Hongo El Cynico Podrido Pititis
Past members	Asesino Güero Sin Fe Greñudo El Embrujado Hongo Jr. Cristo de Pisto El Angelito El Sadistico Jr. Hozicon Marijuano (Control) Machete DJ

Brujeria is an Mexican-american^[5] extreme metal band formed in Tijuana, Mexicali in 1989. Their name comes from the Spanish word for "witchcraft". Their songs, which are sung in Spanish, are focused on Satanism, anti-Christianity, sex, immigration, narcotics smuggling, and politics.^[6] Portraying a Mexican image and with a heavy anti-American stance, the majority of the band's members are Mexican-born, and with some being American, Swedish or British. Furthermore, the band is not from California, United States, contrary to popular belief.^[4]

Brujeria is a side-project of guitarist Dino Cazares (founding member of Fear Factory), and has featured artists such as Billy Gould, Nicholas Barker, Raymond Herrera, Jeff Walker and Shane Embury. They perform under pseudonyms and portray themselves as a Latino band consisting of drug lords, concealing their identities due to being wanted by the FBI. In videos and photographs of the band, they are shown wearing bandanas, balaclavas, serapes, and are often shown wielding machetes.^[6]

History

Formation and early releases (1989–1992)

Brujeria formed at a party in 1989, by which time there was much discrimination against Latin American metalheads. Moreover, the majority of extremist groups in the area sang in Spanish, which is why the founders decided to create a grindcore and death metal band that represents the Hispanic community. Its members, the guitarist Dino Cazares, Jello Biafra, drummer Pat Hoed, bass guitarist Billy Gould and vocalist Juan Brujo, used pseudonyms as most were members of other known bands.

The band was criticized from its inception because of its lyrics about drugs, sex and Satanism. This is because the main concept of the band was inspired by the story that shook Mexico on 11 April 1989 at the Rancho Santa Elena, in Matamoros, where there were satanic rituals. The same year they released their first single, "¡Demoniaco!" and two years later another entitled "Machetazos". In "Machetazos" came the first change in the group with the departure of Jello Biafra, the integration of Pinche Peach into the vocals and Raymond Herrera on drums, as Pat Hoed left the drums and became a second vocalist. "Machetazos" and "El Patron" were produced and distributed through record label Alternative Tentacles by Jello Biafra.

Matando Güeros and controversy (1993–1994)

Controversy was created by the cover of their first album Matando Güeros (1993), which featured a severed head being held by a hand. Subsequently, the image of the head would become an emblem of the band, transforming themselves into their mascot known as Coco Loco, and is seen frequently on album covers and merchandise. The head is largely believed to have belonged to Mario Rios.^[7] Thanks to the record and rumours generated, Brujeria became more popular. In this album the band integrated Shane Embury on bass guitar which still remains in the lineup of the band.

Raza Odiada, Marijuana and Spanglish 101 (1995–1999)

In 1995 they released their second full-length Raza Odiada, with the usual themes but with significant changes in their music and for many critics and fans their best work to date. Raza Odiada featured the single "La Ley De Plomo", whose music video proved successful on music channels such as MTV, featuring late at night on heavy metal shows.

The group started to become increasingly popular, but nevertheless, decided to remain anonymous and declined all offers to organize concerts (except on rare occasions), confounding supporters, who were eager to see them live. Two years later came the EP Marijuana, featuring a cover-parody of the popular song The Macarena and four live songs from its first official concert.

In 1999 saw the release of Spanglish 101, a compilation of label Kool Arrow Records' artists, protesting against the dominance of English. On this album the band released a couple of new tracks: "Marcha de Odio" which would later be included in their next album, Brujerizmo and "Don Quijote Marijuana", an issue that attracted attention for its techno-dance style, completely different from the band's heavy metal sound.

Commercial success with Brujerizmo and Mextremist Hits! (2000–2001)

In 2000, 5 years after the last LP, Brujerizmo was released, which incorporated Nicholas Barker as a second drummer, Jesse Pintado on the guitar and Gaby Dominguez, as "Pititis", who represents a female demon^[8] as the female vocalist. The album was a bestseller and was nominated for the 2001 Latin Grammy in the category "Best Rock Album." The award was won by La Ley, and as expected, Brujeria did not appear at the ceremony.

The next release was a compilation, called Mextremist! Greatest Hits, released in 2001, which included classic tracks, alternate versions, remixes, a multimedia track with video, and some new themes, such as the collaboration with Mucho Muchacho on "Narco-Peda" and "Asesino" which featured Tony Campos of Static-X. The record, rather than being a compilation, was more like a disc of rarities and b-sides, since most of the songs were not the album versions, but the versions on the EPs and singles. The disc also included a video cover for the Magazine 60 song "Don Quichotte" named "Don Quijote Marihuana"

Hiatus and projects (2002–2006)

2002 came with many plans for the band, first they went to record new material for their eagerly awaited fourth album. However, this seems to have been put on hold. The band then announced the launch of various side-projects for each of the band members, starting with Asesino who launched that same year, Corridos de Muerte with the band featuring Tony Campos and Emilio Marquez.

There is a DVD compilation of the band called "Permission of Satan". This DVD was produced by Juan Brujo and Henry about the recording period of the Asesino album and videos of his first three presentations of the official tour of Brujeria, The Mexecutioner Tour. Also includes images of the addition of Wee Man Jason Acuña of Jackass, Satanico Army Band, Mariachi Terror, and others. The DVD was homemade and distributed by Juan Brujo.

Brujeria declined to do live performances in its early years, however on June 11, 1997 they played at the Whisky a Go Go club in Hollywood. The short concert itself was incorporated into the EP "Marijuana" as a side B. On October 2, 2003 the band played its first official concert in Chicago USA, and began its first tour known as The Mexecutioner Tour, which concluded on January 24, 2004 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Also in 2003, Roadrunner Records released a compilation of tracks from the studio albums, the band titled The Mexecutioner! - The Best of Brujeria. The band, now with Nicholas Barker on drums, decided to promote the work as the band had never done before, which included interviews, concerts and more. Starting with a second tour called "Tour II", which began on February 7, 2004 in Mexicali and the first appearance of Pititis the female voice of the band, their first visit to Brazil and Argentina, concluding the tour on August 8, of that year in Buenos Aires.

After that the band was absent from the stage and uncertainty about the group's future arose, it was speculated that the reason for this was that they were working on a new album, but that was just rumours. Also during this period of time several vital members of the group such as Dino Cazares, departed after alleged differences with frontman Juan Brujo. In 2006 there was news from the band with the release of The Singles which is a revival of the EP and singles of the band and the beginning of a new global concert tour known as "No Seas Pendejo Tour" that began in Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 28 and also included the presentation in Vive Latino 2006 in Mexico featuring two new members: Tony Laureano on drums and Jeff Walker on bass. Shane Embury left bass and switched to guitar. At their first appearance in Europe Viña Rock, Spain, the tour concluded on 6 August of that year in Houston Texas. Later in September of that year they returned to do a small tour in Spain known as "Don Quijote Marijuana Tour" now with Patrik Jensen on guitar and Adrian Erlandsson on drums.

Reunion and possible fourth album (2007–present)

After several years on hiatus, and internal problems, Brujeria reformed in 2007 and decided it was time to return to the scene. Juan Brujo (vocals), Pat Hoed (second vocals), Jeff Walker (bass), Shane Embury (guitar) and Adrian Erlandsson (drums) started a new tour called "Weapon of Change Tour". Lasting from February 21 to December 15, the band performed in England, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. Between April and June 2008, Brujeria returned to Europe to play some concerts as an extension of the "Weapon of Change Tour", including dates at SWR MetalFest XI in Barroselas (Portugal), again Viña Rock (Albacete,Spain)^[9] and in Kobetasonik ^[10] which is a rock festival that takes place in the Basque Country (Spain). In November and December of that year, the band began another tour called "Accept No Imitations Tour". Brujeria played at the 10th annual Maryland Death Fest in May 2012.

They performed a world tour between 2007 and 2008. In an interview in June 2009, bassist Shane Embury stated that the band's fourth studio album was going to be released that year, and that it could be released by the band itself.^[11] As of Febuary 2014, the new Brujeria album has still not been released.

Band members

Current members

• Juan Brujo (John Lepe) - vocals (1989–present)
• Pinche Peach - vocals, samples (1989–present)
• Fantasma (Pat Hoed) - vocals, bass (1989–present), drums (1989)
• El Cynico (Jeffrey Walker) - bass, guitar, vocals (2006–present)
• Hongo (Shane Embury) - guitar (formerly bass), drum programming (1989–present)
• Podrido (Adrian Erlandsson) - drums (2006–present)
• Hongo Jr. (Nicholas Barker) - drums (2005-2005, 2014-present) (some live shows and participation in the new album)
• Cuernito - guitar (2013-present) (some live shows and participation in the new album)

Past members

• Asesino (Dino Cazares) - guitar (1989–2005)
• Hongo Jr. (Nicholas Barker) - drums (2000–2005)
• Güero Sin Fe (Billy Gould) - bass, guitar (1989–2002)
• Greñudo (Raymond Herrera) - drums (1993–2002)
• El Angelito (Tony Laureano) - drums (2006-)
• El Embrujado (Patrik Jensen)- guitar (1997-)
• Cristo de Pisto (Jesse Pintado) - guitar (2000)
• El Sadistico (Emilio Marquez) - drums
• Marijuano (Control) Machete DJ (Antonio Hernandez) - vocals, electronics, samples
• Pito Wilson (Jello Biafra) - vocals, support
• Pititis (Gaby Dominguez) - Female vocals, backing vocals, guitar
• Maldito X (Tony Campos) - vocals (2001)

Discography

Full-length albums

Singles and EPs

• 1990 - ¡Demoniaco! (Nemesis Records)
• 1992 - ¡Machetazos! (Alternative Tentacles)
• 1994 - El Patron (Alternative Tentacles)
• 2000 - Marijuana (Kool Arrow Records)
• 2008 - Debilador (Independent)
• 2009 - No Aceptan Imitaciones (Independent)
• 2010 - California Uber Aztlan (Independent)

Compilation albums

• 1994 - Best of Grindcore and Destruction (Priority Records)
• 1999 - Spanglish 101 (Kool Arrow Records)
• 2001 - Mextremist! Greatest Hits (Kool Arrow Records)
• 2003 - The Mexecutioner! - The Best of Brujeria (Roadrunner Records)
• 2006 - The Singles

See also

• Adolfo Constanzo, leader of a true-life Mexican murder cult who profited by drug smuggling
• Borderland, a 2007 film based on Constanzo and his cult

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brujeria.

• Official website
• Brujeria at Allmusic.
• Brujería discography at MusicBrainz
• Brujeria on Myspace