Breed 77 - Insects

Paul Isola – Lead Vocals
Danny Felice - Guitars
Stuart Cavilla - Bass
Pedro Caparros López - Guitars
Óscar Preciado Zamora - Drums

It’s been 10 years since the Gibralter group, Breed 77 (also referred to as “The Gibraltarian Mafia”) were voted best new band by both the readers of Kerrang and Metal Hammer, but they’re back with their latest album(5th), “Insects”. Breed 77 blend English and Spanish cultures into their music, apparently as a “reaction to the boring state of music”. With that in mind they’re in mixed company, with the likes of Molotov, Soulfly, Sepultura, Ill Nino and somewhat “lighter” rockers, Mana.

Some time ago I picked up their album “In My Blood”, and as albums go, not bad at all. However, there are a few differences with their latest offering. The vocals are harder hitting, more harsh, and every so often you hear the music slide into elements of out and out thrash. Subtle, this album isn’t.

The album opens up with a clock ticking for about a minute, hence the title “Wake Up”, possibly counting the three year wait we’ve had since their last project, and it may just me, but when the vocals kick in I’m reminded of Coal Chamber. Asides from that, hefty rhythm riffs, and nicely crafted solo’s almost Malmsteen esque in their execution are pretty much order of the day and what you’ve come to expect.

The second track, “The Battle of Hatin”, the flamenco undercurrent nicely drives the chugging guitars along, and for a minute you’re almost in System of a Down territory, with another Yngwie sounding solo thrown into the mix. Following closely behind, “Revolution on my Mind” has a more melodic sounding chorus to it, but listen closely, and the guitars haven’t actually let up that much. Title track “Insects”, laments “What’s the use in trying anymore”, and then punches back with Isola growling “Now insects rule the world”, quite an observation.

The truth is, you can’t pigeon hole Breed 77, just look at the band names mentioned above, and the more I listen to “Insects” the more I like it, with one exception. The last track, a cover of Zombie, by The Cranberries. It’s not great, and probably not the best song to end with, but since the 10 tracks leading up to that are pretty damned good, most of you should be able to forgive them that one!