The Argentine Band Expands Power and Heavy Metal in Their First Album... | Warning: Possible Contamination… P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. Presents “Una Gran Estrella”…
No, it’s not about wearing a mask or social distancing like with COVID-19, and you might even think that P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A.’s proposal has something to do with that era, but the truth is that the band originated in 2015 when Marcos Kovacic on vocals and Vladislav Bykov on drums (an old acquaintance of the house… yes, the same guy who answered the phone when we did radio back in the old days…) got together to fuse lyrics and arrangements, recording several musical compositions under the name P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. during those years. So, between 2017 and 2018, they recorded a three-song demo with Emiliano Perez on guitar and bass, which was never officially released.
In early 2020, they re-recorded the same songs, adding new ones, with Gustavo Lopez (Yue) on guitars and bass arrangements, seeking to give the band’s sound a new twist, trying to sound more serious and closer to a more modern sound. So, at the end of 2023, Vladyslav Drakovtsov joined the band on bass, with whom they recorded their first album, titled “Una Gran Estrella,” released digitally in early 2024.
The album is available on various platforms. “Una Gran Estrella” showcases P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. in all its glory, with a focus on epic power metal based on more traditional heavy metal. Among its 11 tracks are two covers, performed in Spanish, of the songs “Stihl” (‘Calma’) by the Russian band Aria and “The Trooper” (“El Jinete”) by Iron Maiden. Both are tremendous versions.
Right from the start, tracks such as “Aliento De Vida” and “Poder En El Ser” show that P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. is all about raging Power Metal, in the style of old Helloween, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, and Blind Guardian, with clear roots in traditional Heavy Metal, as in the case of Iron Maiden, with a rather epic and portentous atmosphere. “El Eslavo” is clearly one of the most powerful tracks on the album, while “Llantos Amargos” shows the heavier side of P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. with lots of riffs and metal, as it should be. In addition to all that, it can be said that “Una Gran Estrella” has a great sound and mix. It was recorded in two different studios, La Nave de Oseberg and Inefable Music Studio, bearing in mind that this is an independent production. It is truly surprising, and yes, it is P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A.’s first step onto the scene, and we believe, without a doubt, that they have much more to give.
P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A.’s proposal in “Una Gran Estrella” displays metal in each of its songs, and it couldn’t be otherwise, coming from two great metal warriors like Marcos Kovacic and Vladislav Bykov.
The band is currently looking for a guitarist to join them so they can perform live (those interested can contact the band). Even so, P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. is not stopping and continues to work on upcoming songs and even thinking about a second album. They are also preparing a new Iron Maiden cover, in Spanish. In the meantime, here are the links to follow the band on social media and, of course, a sample of “Una Gran Estrella” so you can hear what P.A.N.D.E.M.I.A. has to offer…
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084439141963
https://www.instagram.com/p.a.n.d.e.m.i.a.official
