Review Summary: Breed 77 perfect their sound, and with "In My Blood" they show that nobody is going to be copying them soon - uniqueness is the name of the game here
Gibraltar hasn't really produced anything amazing when it comes to music, save for Albert Hammond, But with this album, Breed 77 are on their way to becoming a strong force in the metal world. Maybe it’s due to Gibraltar's geographical location, but Breed 77 play metal with flamenco and Latin influences, and on their latest album they continue forging their own sound.
"Cultura" was a landmark for the band, as it showcased a band with plenty of great ideas. "In My Blood" sees the band taking the unconventional (for metal anyway) influences to a new level, with most, if not all songs containing flamenco guitar passages, as seen in songs like "Alive" and "Remember That Day". Opener "Petroleo" sums up the band's sound perfectly, with a soaring chorus, and some Spanish lyrics thrown in.
It's not all about the pummeling metal though, Breed 77 showed this with their hit "The River", and continue to deliver with "Look at Me Now" and especially, "So You Know". However, it is in songs such as "Blind" and "Alive" where the listener can find the true potential in this band, as the former begins with a heavy introduction, but a flamenco guitar playing at the same time, and what’s more, it works.
Lyrically, the topics covered aren't that special, you’re usual tales of rising above and what have you. There are numerous sections with lyrics in Spanish, but whether you understand them or not, it suits the music well. Vocalist Paul Isola delivers the lyrics well, with his Mediterranean-tinged voice, with a growl here and there, as seen on "Blind". However, he does seem to stray into longer sections, which can get a little annoying after a while. The rest of the mix is a combination of Riffs and solos courtesy of Danny felice and some tribal percussion which compliments the more Latin sounding areas of the music.
However, the album is not without flaw, as there is some filler material in the form of "Empty Words" and "The Game", which are little more than your average Breed 77 song, but fans are sure to embrace these tracks, as they don't really ruin the consistency of the album that much. Also, when it comes to the heavier sections, they aren't anything special, but it does the job.
In Conclusion, it is fair to say that Breed 77 have mastered the sound that was prominent on "Cultura". The album is full of catchy songs and heavier ones, which will please many fans of both hard rock and metal. it is the confident and frequent use of flamenco and Latin passages and instrumentation that makes this album worth listening to, and unlike other metal bands who try to bring in other influences, Breed 77 have actually created their own sound, instead of playing "Metal with flamenco guitars" or something down those lines.
