In the past, the formulas used during the rise of NWOBHM, it was a huge influence of early US Metal, German Metal and others, and sparked many different scenes and genres (it’s not a sin to assume that Speed Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal and others are born of NWOBHM, the history doesn’t lie). And the work of the Finnish trio CABALLERO drinks on such sources, as shown on the band’s first full-length, “Caballero”. The recording sessions were done at Soundmix Studios in Oulu (Finland), with the production done by Mika Pohjola, with the band playing alive on studio in one single weekend (except for the guitar solos and some parts of rhythmic guitars), with vocals and mixing done between midnight and early hours in the morning.

All to try to catch the most organic and Old School Heavy Metal feeling possible. It works, but not as good as it could be. And the artwork of Tamara Abarzúa V. (layout), Engla Jansson (cover art) and Antti Hyvönen (logo) makes things really tasteful. The trio’s music is a form of traditional Heavy Metal of NWOBHM with bits of Old School Speed Metal and Old School Power Metal, filled with energy and melodies in the same proportions, very good melodies and charming choruses. It’s not a copy of anyone, and it’s really very good, besides the vocals could be better (maybe a consequence of the recordings).

Strangely, the trio was founded on 2009 and just played on gig, and took 15 years to release its first full-length. It’s a conceptual album that deals with the conquest of Aztec empire by Francisco Pizarro, with everything told throughout “The Moor-Slayer” (very good guitar riffs and solos, with melodies being wisely constructed by them), “Caballero” (a faster song with traits of US Metal in the vein of OMEN and JAG PANZER, with very good bass guitar and drums parts), “Sorcery Above the Lake of the Water Dog”, “Lightning Conquest” (some Hard Rock influences becomes clear in many moments), “Mortally Wounded, Counting the Galaxies”, “La Noche Triste” and “The Lord of the Day and the Winds”. For Old School Metal fans, “Caballero” will be a delight.

Even after such a long time, “Caballero” comes to show that CABALLERO has many things to offer to the fans, so let’s hope the band can come with a new release as soon as possible.