I was recently in Madrid, doing the rounds of the city's record stores as usual (expect my report on them, soon). Every time I'm in another country, I try to get some albums by local groups. I've been to Spain so often that by now I own records from almost 30 Spanish rock bands - more than any of my Spanish friends! But there are still new discoveries to be made, so while browsing the "rock nacional" section at FNAC, I came across this LP for the first time. Never having seen it before is not strange, since it's been out of print for 40-odd years, and only got reissued in 2022. To be honest, the album cover and band name stroke me as rather childish. But I googled it, and it only took a few seconds of listening to a sample on youtube to decide this was indeed a great find. There isn't a lot of info on the band available online: just that they were formed in Barcelona in 1977, by singer Alfredo "Fredy" Valcarcel. The rest of the band are Kiko (Aparicio) drums, Javi (Latorre) bass, and guitarists Albert (Balsells, lead) and Tony (Cruz, rhythm). La Bruja, released in '78 or '79 (reports vary), was their sole LP. Based on the year, one might expect it to sound closer to NWOBHM, but this is more like late 60's - early 70's heavy psychedelia. So, despite the release date, one might call this album proto-stoner, proto-metal, or proto-punk... really primitive heavy rock with screaming vocals, scorching fuzz guitar and pounding drums. IRockcelona were probably influenced by A-list bands like Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin, but their unrefined and brutal approach is more reminiscent of Sir Lord Baltimore, Leaf Hound, or Buffalo. Had they been formed in the US, England, or Australia, instead of Catalonia, they might have become as "famous" as those other bands. Fredy sings mostly in Spanish, but there are also two songs in English - which I didn't notice at first, so clear is his enunciation. These are classic boogie "Lovespell", and Thin Lizzy-like "Queen, Friend And Dread". Opener "La Bruja" is one of the album's highlights: It starts off with a heavy blues riff à la Cream - don't change this, autocorrect, I didn't mean à la crème as in cooking, I'm referencing the band Cream. Then, 1,5 minute in, it picks up pace almost hitting Motörhead speed. One more heavy mid-tempo section, then again a fast one featuring manic "witchy" laughter. "Colt 45" is another hard rocker; this one reminds me more of Montrose. I know I'm bringing up other band names left and right, but don't take that to mean that Rockcelona's music is derivative. On the contrary, where you hear of too many influences, that means a band has achieved its own sound. Whereas, if I say that Oasis sound similar to The Beatles, well... Anyway, Side 1 of La Bruja closes with blues rock instrumental "Magbalino" allowing Balsells to show off his considerable guitar chops. "Hombre Triste" is another chugging boogie, this one featuring a fantastic shredding solo. It's followed by the heavier sludge rock "Tierra De Fuego". "Buscandote Rock 'N' Roll" starts off in a similar slow and heavy tempo, then halfway through the song the band are seemingly replaced by The Ramones, or at least they adopt a Ramones-like breakneck pace. Screaming vocals, drum rolls, and galloping guitar solos complete the picture. All in all, this LP made for a very satisfactory listen. Don't get me wrong; this isn't a masterpiece in any sense. The songwriting is forgettable, production is rudimentary, and the musicians' technique is less than impressive. But their playing is powerful and passionate. At the same time, the music is remarkably timeless, sounding both too retro for '79 and uncannily similar to modern-day stoner rock. It's as if Rockcelona were some distant Spanish uncles of Queens Of The Stone Age: at first glance, they have nothing in common. Then, the DNA reveals itself. As it always does.
**** for La Bruja, Lovespell, Colt 45, Hombre Triste, Buscandote Rock 'N' Roll, Queen Friend And Dread
*** for Magbalino, Tierra De Fuego
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