Zafakon Announce New U.S. Tour Dates


After being chosen to open for Metallica in San Juan last year, Zafakon is more driven than ever to make their name known throughout the scene. Today the Puerto Rican thrashers have announced that they will be returning to the United States this Summer for a must see tour with Anger As Art and Damaged. Continue reading


Video: Metallica Performs Ride the Lightning And Battery In Puerto Rico


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Metallica kicked off their ‘Hardwired’ world tour last week at Coliseo de Puerto Rico, and after Zafakon’s inspiring opening set, the heavy metal giants performed an amazing show for the sold out crowd. Continue reading


Zafakon: Anything Is Possible After Opening Up For Metallica


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Photo by Jean C. Arroyo Rosario from La Rockola The Show.

Metallica recently announced that they would be giving local bands the opportunity to open for them on their current Latin American tour. Based on a voting system, the most popular bands at each stop will be granted the opening spot, and the awesome Zafakon won their way to the stage in Puerto Rico. Continue reading


Ramon Ortiz – Portal


Ramon Ortiz PORTAL CD cover 2015

Being stuck between three cultures is interesting, although also difficult at times. The metal and rock worlds always draw me back in but so do my Boricua roots so it really shouldn’t have been any surprise that I became emotional over a recording of Coquis singing. Like the saying goes; la sangre llama.

Today’s review is brought to you by the letter R, as in, Ramon Ortiz and his second album, Portal (Self-Released). Taking a look at the title track, ‘Portal’, has some groovy moments with a lot of weedly, weedly, woo. The chorus sounds like something that could have been featured in an action cartoon from the 80’s. I believe that it would be one that I would look back on with fondness.

At twelve and a half minutes long, closing track ‘Yukiyu II’ is a beautiful mix progressive metal elements with Spanish guitar and touches of Latin percussion. This is also one of the songs where you can actually make out the bass in the background every once in a while. The downside is that this eventually turns into your standard progressive metal track around the eight minute mark. It makes a slight recovery once you get to ten minutes before dropping off again soon after.

It may not be salsa or merengue but then again, Puerto Rico has always been a melting pot of cultures and music and Ramon is a great example of what can come out of it. I would have liked to have heard more Latin influences but maybe we get enough of that when Ramon’s running around with Puya. Personally, the albums highlights for me were the use of Spanish guitars. I may be biased, but I prefer Ortiz’s fusion style and this record has a bit too much of a general progressive metal record vibe to it. I was hoping for some more experimentation and expansion.

7.0/10

ALEIDA LA LLAVE