The Chilean Metal scene in South American is recognized as one of the strongest of all the continent (even stronger than Brazil, that is fractured due many facts that don't deserved to be mentioned here), but a great part of it is drowned in the scene of 'sounding-like-the-past', and such holds back many musical efforts of Chilean bands. But some surprises arise there, as "Leprosario Lazaretto", the new album of THORNAFIRE. This album can be a cause of a violent earthquake on the country due its brutality and oppressive appeal. The quartet practices a form of Death Metal that sounds in an Old School like form, but using a refreshed and young appeal with some brutal Death/Black-like elements, and even something linked to elements in a as MOTÖRHEAD-like tendency (as heard on "Saturno").

It's caustic, violent and hooking, full of energy and personality, and with a high level of instrumental technique (what means the tempo shifts and rhythmic contrasts are excellent, as rich in arrangements as well, and the bass playing is on a CANNIBAL CORPSE level sometimes). It's precisely what the doctor recipes for strengthening the heartbeats of Metal fans. One of the main aspects that boost things up on "Leprosario Lazaretto" is the sonority. Felipe Cuevas and Pablo Navarrete worked on the recordings, with excellent instrumental tunes that one the mixing and mastering enable things to be understood without problems, but with the distorted strength that the quartet's music needs. And what great artwork created by the Brazilian artist Marcos Miller, recovering many ancient cultural elements of Pre-Colombian people of America.

All the songs are really excellent, depicting the experience of 25 years fighting into underground slums. But "El Coro de los Hambrientos en tus Oídos Conchetumadre!" (a brutal and technical song with excellent guitar riffs and arrangements), "Leprosario Lazareto" (this one is filled with refined instrumental arrangements, with a heavy crush used on bass guitar and drums), "La Red que nos Mantiene Unidos" (an introspective and Folk-like melancholic song based on clean Opera-like vocals and chords), "The Great Deceiver" (that brings some different touches, something inherited from Industrial Metal in some parts, but soon the Death Metal explosive energy took over, with massive riffing and very good grunts), "Saturno" (that sounds free of musical conceptions, with a similar set of Death 'n' Roll elements, so this one is not as rigidly as Death Metal as the others), "Renati in Se" (that depicts some elements as the previous song, but with a more Death Metal appeal), "Megálos Christós" (even being a band with a more traditional Death Metal essence, they dare to break some limits and use even some melodic touches, as heard here), "Fuego" (can classic Death Metal use a melancholic sheath? This song clearly gives an 'yes' as answer) and "Thornavatras Quintaesencia" are enough to state that this album as a 'must-have' for Metal fans (and pay attention: for Metal fans, not for extreme Metal fans only).

"Leprosario Lazaretto" is really a lovely release that deserves to be heard and enjoyed at its fullest, and THORNAFIRE can be pointed as a driving force into Chilean Metal scene.