Review: “Premonión” by Rabia Pérez

An Alternative Metal band formed in 2011 by vocalist Fátima Pérez and guitarist Gabriel Peñasco in Madrid, Rabia Pérez display influences ranging from Metalcore to Groove Metal… while flirting with Deathcore when at their heaviest. They have evidenced two EPs and a full length over the past twelve years to push that envelope but it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Bassist Xavier Saavedra exited stage left in 2021, so the band are rounded out by former One Second Faith drummer Paris Lakryma, former Everlasting bassist Tony Torres and second guitarist Víctor Guerrero. Their latest burnt offering “Premonión” was recorded at Metropol studios in Madrid under the guidance of Alex Cappa (Void’s Legion, Bones of Minerva, Astray Valley)…

Building on the foundations of their 2020 EP “Un Nuevo Mundo” which found vocalist Fátima Pérez embracing guttural unclean vocals for the first time, opening cut “Los Elegidos” (or “The Chosen“) wastes little time in getting to the heart of what Rabia Perez are all about with a brutal roar before the first verse. As you might have predicted given the track titles which we’ve lovingly translated, the record is one sung and screamed entirely in the bands native Spanish, something that bodes well for a Latin American audience and gives everyone else the ability to enjoy the music like they’re watching a foreign film. You can’t mistake the passion, emotion and energy captured in the performances on the record and with riffs flying in all directions and Fátima Pérez sounding like Tatiana “Tati” Shmayluk of Jinjer in the uncleans and Elena “Lena Scissorhands” Cataraga of Infected Rain during the cleans, her range is phenomenal. Yes there are a couple of pitching issues with a couple of the clean moments on the opening cut but they’re quickly washed away by the tidal wave of sound. Title track “Premonión” (or “Premonition“) is the second one out of the gate and offers up some chunky Metalcore styled riffage that edges towards a little more technicality, it bleeds groove with powerful percussive battery and dark atmospherics while skilfully avoiding the need for a mid section slowdown and bold chorus. Rabia Pérez clearly don’t feel the need to fall into genre stereotypes or to use a formula and that is one of many reasons that despite this album coming 12 years after they started, they still sound as fresh and relevant as they do today.

One of those cuts with an ear worm riff to delight, “Portales” (or “Portals“) continues the flow in stellar, neck snapping fashion as the band harness their live energy and unleash it in the studio. Fátima Pérez vocals reach fever pitch as she spits nothing but fire over those riffs and leaves you wondering what she could do if called upon for a cameo by a Deathcore band like Osiah or Bound In Fear. This half an hour of power has no mid record power ballad and instead maintains the perpetual forward motion with “Fenix” (or “Phoenix“). A cut that finds Fátima Pérez embracing some of the vocal stylings of Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies, this one has a couple of mid tempo groove sections as well as a lethal slow down that touches the void into Downtempo Groove in the final moments. “Otelo” (or “Othello“) surprises by maximising contrast, the band incorporating a couple of almost acoustic, flamenco based melodic passages around some spine juddering Metalcore riffage with slick transitions. It’s one of those that you might not see coming before it hits and may not get on the first couple of spins but works incredibly well in what has to be considered a bold move. Staccato riff breaks galore give “El Martillo de las Brujas” (or “The Witches Hammer“) a satisfying crunch and there is even time for some blast beats before an ethnic rhythmic moment adds some ethereal flare. A punch in the face from a woman scorned vocally, this one is arguably the heaviest hitter and brings down the bloodstained curtain in style [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Los Elegidos
2. Premonition
3. Portales
4. Fenix
5. Otelo
6. El Martillo de las Brujas

“Premonition” by Rabia Perez was released on 15th December 2023 via Art Gates Records