Well, when we speak about South American Metal scene, it's a well-consolidated fact that here we have a long tradition on extreme Metal bands. Yes, we have very good and known names in more traditional and melodic styles, but I think that 70% of the Metal bands produced on South America are into a more extreme Metal way (Thrash, Death and Black Metal). And Chile is one of the main forces, gathering legions of maniac fans, and some good names arise from those lands. And one good name is from ISTENGOAT, a quartet that comes now with their second album, "Atlas Shrugged".

Pure and simple Death Metal, in the most brutal way you can think of, but not abusing of a high speed. No, they know how to use variation of tempos, from some fast (but as I said, not so fast) and slower moments, creating an oppressive and bitter form of music. Ok, it's nothing new at all, but it has energy and a personality pulsing there. Under these guttural vocals with some high-pitched screams, abrasive and very good riffs, and a thunderous rhythmic session, there are four thinking minds.

The sound quality, as you all could expect, is pretty brutal and aggressive, but done with a very good level of clearness and understanding, so we can really comprehend what the band is all about with their musical work.

They worked really hard, and the result is very good, indeed.

With eight songs lasting a mean value of 5 minutes each one (except for "With Usura" with more than 9 minutes, and "Est Brent" with a bit more than 6 minutes), they show what they got on very good moments as the aggressive "Unverzagt" (with some great guitars and very good fast tempos), the excellent, slow and bitter "Atlas Shrugged" (but it becomes faster from a certain point, with a sickening solo, but the vocalist is in his finest moment on this song), "Avatara" with its mix of fast and mid tempos, and the long "With Usura", where bass and drums creates a very well worked ryhtmic basis.

Not one of the best albums of the year, but it's very good, indeed.<