Tierra Santa-Mejor Morir ...

(Trans: Yes!  It is always better to die on your feet.  And y’all know that when I die, I’ll die with my boots (and my hat) ON!!  That last part was a combo Iron Maiden/Angeles Del Infierno reference)

What took the sting out of coming back from vacation was the knowledge that waiting back in Cincinnati would be the latest album “fresh off the press” from my favourate band in the world – Tierra Santa.  I normally buy my CD’s used (less expensive) and I can’t really remember the last album I bought the day it came out (I remember back when I was … 14 getting Triumph’s “Never Surrender” record fresh of the press – dating myself there a bit) so when I DO go out of my way to get something like this, it means something.  Incidentally, the mail-order company I got this from was having a sale. You can reach Dan & the Boyz at Sentinel Steel at  www.sentinelsteel.com  Tell em I sent ya!

This album continues the work from the previous album (“Apocolipsis”) in it finds the Spanish “quintet” (they finally made that keyboard player a regular member of the band, tis aboot time too boys – he carried y’all on the last album) finds themselves moving away from the stark “Iron Maiden-ish” sound to a blend of Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and a little Rush/Triumph.   This album also finds the Castillian Chaps adopting a new lyrical approach.  Unlike previous albums (“Indomable” & prior), the band’s lyrics are more of a reflection of our modern world and the human condition as contrasted with the historical and lengendary approach of the previous efforts.  

Standout tracks on the album are the title (and opening) track “Mejor Morir en Pie (Better To Die On Your Feet)” which –shades of Maiden’s “Can I Play W/ Madness?” or Dokken’s “In My Dreams” – has an acapella beginning!  Other noteworthy songs include “Un Grito en el Aire (A Cry on the Wind)” and “Si Tu Alma Has de Vender (If You Gotta Sell Yer Soul)”.  The only ‘half-baked’ track on this album is the shortest one … “Una Luz en La Oscuridad (A Light in the Darkness)”.  And … Hey, I got the version with the “Boner Track” on it “Himno a la Alegria”, a heavy metal adaptation of Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’.

In short, what we have here is 10 more Rockin’ lecciones en Español and 11 more reasons why I want this band’s logo tattoed somewhere on my body.  If you don’t already know Spanish, get any one of this band’s albums and a good diccionario and you will.

Wing D. grades this album a 83 out of 100.