In-Dios: Ultimatum | Keeping the Metal Legacy Alive
(2024 – Cuervo Records)
National Heavy Metal, a subgenre of Metal here in Argentina, has its own history and legacy. It is often upheld by the leading bands of the genre, as well as by thousands of underground bands that try to preserve that legacy in their own music. The latter could be the case of In-Dios, a band that flies the flag for National Metal, but doesn’t stop there. Their music has other ingredients that make their offering interesting and worth following closely.
“Ultimatum” is actually In-Dios’ second album, and the truth is that it is one of the most interesting things I have heard lately. In just 10 songs, they mercilessly demolish you, in a clear rendition of what traditional Heavy Metal is, with an Argentinean stamp, but adding more modern elements to their music. Let me explain: In-Dios’s sound includes high-pitched vocals, a strong and sustained base, and clear influences from the more radical side of Judas Priest and a nod to Malon, Tren Loco, or even Lethal, but with a sound more focused on modern trends with a lot of groove in their music. With a lot of heavy riffs, strong bass lines, and a much more pretentious approach than on their first album, In-Dios is a clear example of the evolution of so-called National Metal.
“Última Vuelta,” the first track on Ultimatum, is a clear example of where In-Dios is headed. Cutting, crushing, and with a catchy chorus, while “Envenenados” shows a structure more focused on traditional metal, with a lot of Judas Priest, which is also evident in “Hipnosis.” On the other hand, “Triste Realidad” is a mid-tempo track and one of the best on the album, with an excellent double guitar solo, demonstrating the great musical richness that In-Dios possesses. “Mundo Inmundo” has that logic born in national metal that we talked about, as does “Fuego En Mi Interior.”
But there’s more. Despite my skepticism, there’s a kind of ballad called “Tan Perfecta,” a song that’s a bit out of place on an album like this, but that’s okay, why not? The fury returns in all its glory with Cuestión De Tiempo, with riffs more typical of old-school thrash metal, but with a more traditional base, while the spectacular Pobre Mente puts the finishing touch on this good album.
In-Dios is a traditional band, with a lineup of vocals, two guitars, bass, and drums. With this foundation, they are able to deliver a solid album, with a devastating sound based on a combination of the best that national heavy metal can offer today, proving that evolution is not synonymous with sounds foreign to metal. The important thing is that “Ultimatum” has good songs with simple compositions that don’t shy away from the present but don’t go overboard either, maintaining the essence of the metal we came to know.
The cover of “Ultimatum” has very good graphic art, with illustrations that reflect a little of the idea, concept, and message that In-Dios wants to convey with this album. In addition, the inner sleeve contains many photographs of the band and the lyrics of the songs, which, incidentally, have a mix of social, political, and personal criticism, very much in line with the times.
The sound captured on this album is excellent, and in that sense, you can tell that a lot of work went into the mixing and mastering to achieve a fierce album, with loud, violent guitars that in no way overshadow the final result. Even the percussion sounds tremendously strong and hits hard. Thumbs up.
Just when we thought that national metal was a thing of the past, or that the only way to access that sound was to resort to the old and beloved bands of yesteryear, In-Dios appears and updates the sound, songs, and warrior spirit that has always characterized bands that fly the national flag. In that sense, I believe that without being a revolutionary band, In-Dios, with “Ultimatum,” updates its sound and releases a professional record to drive at the speed that characterizes them toward their next step. They have no shortage of arguments.
This album has only been released on CD so far and can be obtained through their label at https://www.facebook.com/CuervoRecords. We also leave here the way to get in touch with the band and the official video for “Última Vuelta,” from this album.
https://www.facebook.com/InDiosMetalOficial
https://www.instagram.com/in.diosoficial
