Roadrunner "Revolution...Revolucion" - Ill Nino

Holy Guacamole! What ex-Pro-Pain/MOD drummer Dave already started as a multilingual, percussion-driven hardcore band under el nombre El Nino (with Merauder throatsman Jorge Rosado) got an overhaul that might as well made 'em the Scarfaces of Latin Metal.
Think Quicksand meets Sepultura dipped in a hearty salsa of Samba and Merrengue beats. While there's the occasion DJ scratch here or there that definitely dates things, bashers like "If You Still Hate Me", "Rumba" and "God Save Us" rip out of the gate courtesy of frontman Cristian Machado's "good cop/extremely corrupt bad cop" growl like angry bulls ready to gore a Toreador or two.
It was also Ill Nino's primer disco that introduced the world to backpack-wearing Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy guitarist Marc Rizzo, already showing off his Flamenco chops here.
The original idea was to have Dave co-produce with now-legendary metallurgist Andy Sneap. Once Roadrunner realized that there was something bigger there, the pockets went a little deeper and Ill Nino opted to work with Bad Brains/Living Colour producer Ron St. Germaine. That didn't work out with St. Germaine, continually butting heads with the band and Roadrunner. In the end, Dave took the helm along with the production team of Scrap 60 (Eddie Wohl and Rob Caggiano).
"Revolution/Revolucion" is raw in sound but slaked with vibe. "Unreal" and "I Am Loco" venture into rockier terrain without losing Ill Nino's then-trademark multi-linguistic ballistics.
Really, it's "What Comes Around": "Revolution/Revolucion"'s radio semi-hit at the time that's a bit of a left curve. With it's unabashed nu-metallisms and hints of rapping, it may not stand up a few years later but it did take Los Ninos out of the barrio.
Ay Carumba!
Betcha the likes of Puya felt kinda jealous.