While my rudimentary Spanish isn't quite good enough to keep up with the vocals on Apocalipsis, it doesn't really need to be. Even without fully comprehending the lyrics,it's very easy to understand why Tierra Santa is releasing their sixth album since 1998. They are quite simply a talented band of great songwriters.
Strong, epic songs with swooning progressive metal vocals are the order of the day. Songs like "Nerón" and "El Grito de La Tierra" are awesome testaments to the power of metal to transcend language. They quickly remind me of Marillion, Dream Theater or more recent Helloween.
Unlike many metal bands from Europe (see Blind Guardian, Helloween, Gamma-Ray, etc), Tierra Santa has chosen to stick to their native language and not sing in English in order to appeal to the United States audience. This pigeonholes them into a very narrow U.S. audience and keeps them strictly in the underground scene. Let's face it, how much of an audience is there for Spanish-language heavy metal in the U.S.? That minor quandry out of the way, if you delve beyond the lyrics and into the music, you'll find some really good power metal here.
Apocalipsis, while a strong and pretty enjoyable CD, has limited appeal in the U.S. Since it's a strong CD from a talented band, it should get more recognition than it will.
Rating: 6 of 10
Article comments
1 - ginnungagap
Hey i just wanted to let you know that tierra santa came to the US already they did 3 concerts in southern california 1 in san jose, and 1 in chicago and its most likely they will come again in october. those concerts were on october of 2004
2 - johana
hole yo quiero saber cundo biene tierra santa
3 - Carlos
I went to 2 of the concerts Tierra Santa did here in Los Angeles and it blew my head off this guys are really awesome amazing shows. I went with my friend whom is not into metal and he loved the shows so much...I requested some Tierra Santa songs on the "Metal Storm" 88.9 FM radio show here in Los Angeles and the guy played like 3 songs.. Long Live Tierra Santa!!!!
4 - Diana
Esta comfirmado TIERRA SANTA se presentara en NY el 21 de oct-05 en D'antigua
5 - leo garcia
I would like to know is they are coming to LA.
I saw them on consert and they
play and look ok.......Not many bands
can play spanish rock but, they are
the one for many years to bring good
rock or havy matel.
6 - darwin
musica en rock pesado y espectaculos en vivo
7 - Goddess Liani
If you like Tierra Santa Apocalipsis, then you guys will like Novia Muerta. It is totally underground with a female filipina that sings in Tagalog and Spanish. Check out the next Goddessnite in Los Angeles to experience a one of a kind metal scene.
8 - christian
me gusta mucho su musica y mi sueno seria verlos en vivo soy de puerto rico. tierra santa es el viaje por el tiempo hecho musica
9 - mario quijano
hola soy mario quijano de pereira colombia .
mi comentario sobre tierra santa es: tierra santa es una banda de heavy metal para mi lo mejor del heavy metal y los estamos esperando son lo mejor