TRANSMETAL „El amor supremo (The Supreme Love)”

The most popular Metal band in Mexico, Transmetal started in 1987 playing a rather primitive brand of Death/trash, but evolving into the greatest metal force in Mexico, while touring the country, central and south America extensively; also alternating with bands like Sepultura, Deicide, Overkill, Slayer, Unleashed and others.

“El Amor Supremo” is Transmetal´s 15th album having already released two double live albums and a “best of” compilation. This album is (according to the band) the best they've ever done and when you listen to it you'll realize that this one can contend with any other in the world.

Through their existence Transmetal has flirted with the concept albums being their first one “el Infierno de Dante” (Dante´s Inferno), which was released also in English, receiving favorable critics, but in my opinion this is Transmetal´s ultimate concept album.

It is based mainly in Goethe´s Faust where the main character, and old alchemist, sells his soul to the devil in order to get the love of a young girl, this may sound familiar to some of you eeeh? Well let me tell you that Kamelot´s Epica is also based on this book even when not completely. In Transmetal´s case the musicians felt free to add different elements to the story making it a little bit more intense.

The increased use of keyboards in the band's music give the album the perfect atmosphere for this story but it also makes them lose some of their personality resembling more than a bit to some “black” metal entities like Cradle of Filth, although this may appeal some, personally I prefer their older style.

The title track opening with a long introduction 100% in the style of Cradle of Filth, finally kicks in around the 2 minutes mark, it has great speed but the vocals sound really thin in comparison with the rest of the music. The second song “Un oceano de tentaciones” (An ocean of temptations) is a mid tempo tune with some good lyrics on it.

I could go on describing every single song, as all of them have something interesting to talk about, and since it´s a concept album each one is as important as the next, the two songs that really blew me away for the complexity of the lyrics and the superb keyboard work on them are track 4 “Encarnacion del fuego” (Fire's Incarnation) a extrange love declaration based mainly in a groovy guitar rhythm. The other one is track 7 “Invocación y Conjuración” (Invocation and Summoning) it is a huge surprise since the song is mostly structured in the power metal vein, although keeping the death metal vocals, did anyone say Children of Bodom?

Once again this could be a very difficult album to get outside America but it shows that not only the European and north American bands can make good metal.

note: 8 out of 10

Line-up

Ernesto Torres (Rhythm Guitar)
Juan Partida (Lead Guitar)
Javier Partida (Lead Guitar)
Lorenzo Partida (Bass Guitar)
Mauricio Torres (Vocals)