Chewelche: Sed De Resistencia | The South Also Exists
(2025 – Icarus Music)
Heirs to heavy metal with the national stamp and lineage that Ricardo Iorio cultivated with Hermética, and fundamentally Almafuerte, Chewelche is following the path of resistance of homemade metal, but with this new work, they are marking an evolution in their music that differs in some ways from their recent past.
Sometimes it is difficult to break away from the place where one has grown up, and where one feels most comfortable. This does not seem to be the case with Chewelche, a band with a well-defined musical, ideological, and lyrical orientation, which is logical if we consider that they were also Ricardo Iorio’s backing band in his later years as a solo artist.
In “Sed De Resistencia,” Chewelche aims for better overall production than in previous works, with a much more elaborate and complex compositional structure. The band is taking a chance on better arrangements and certain tweaks to their songs, which, while not implying a renunciation of their essence as a band, elevates their work to levels previously unimagined.
Chewelche is on its way to becoming one of the best things we have in Argentine heavy metal; I have no doubt about that. Indeed, although they are not the only representatives of the genre and style, the Neuquén band manages to make noise with an impeccable work from every angle, and listen.
The first track on “Sed De Resistencia” is the song that gives the album its title, with an impressive intro that takes us to the lands of southern Argentina. With a solid foundation and chord riffs, Chewelche shows us a polished style of traditional heavy metal with a slight dose of heavy thrash. In the following track, “Herencia Cantora (Gallo Calavera),” we find that mark of Argentine folklore emblazoned on metal in a mid-tempo song, galloping along with interesting guitar orchestrations.
In “Cria Cuervos,” we find another galloping song related to the most classic metal through its strums and riffs, while in “Gente Bravía,” things get heavier, in a kind of surrender to the early days of Almafuerte, preserving melodies and harmonies that make things interesting.
“Por Ser Libre” is a powerful anthem with the air of a warrior ballad and a melodic intro. What follows is a semi-stuck march that displays various feelings with impressive guitar solos. Meanwhile, the fast-paced “Hombres Del Sur” reminds us of the essence of Argentine Heavy Metal, with all the fury that characterizes it.
The tribute to a certain Ricardo Iorio is present on the album. In “Luchando Por El Metal (El Loco Ricardo),” Chewelche not only remembers the greatest of Argentine Heavy Metal, but also highlights his kinship with Iorio’s work and the band’s gratitude to the person who has given them a fundamental helping hand in their growth, recounting several of Chewelche’s adventures with Ricardo in one of those beautiful stories turned into song. Impeccable and emotional, without a doubt.
“A Mi Compañera” is the ballad of the album. Not one of those slow songs you hear on FM radio, but an epic and warrior-like tribute to the fierce companion that many of us, thank God, have by our side. With much more feeling and more real than any slow song that might be floating around out there. What follows is “De Codicia Y De Malicia,” with an almost imperceptible influence from the protest folklore of an unmistakably Argentinean stamp, Chewelche manages to transfer that feeling to the base of traditional metal at half speed.
“Enigmas En El Cielo” took me by surprise. Its strange riffs, more typical of 70s hard rock, and its clear influence from classic metal seem unthinkable for a band like Chewelche, and yet the band from Neuquén rises to the challenge and leaves us with a real blast. For the finale, there is “Chaltén,” a kind of anthem and prayer to one of the most famous mountains in southern Argentina (those who have been lucky enough to be there know what I mean). Is there a more powerful way to end an album than the way Chewelche does it in this final song? I don’t think so.
In “Sed De Resistencia,” Chewelche emphasizes its identity, its national sentiment, and its sense of belonging in an album that is varied within the traditional, national style of heavy metal, but with arrangements and compositions that elevate its proposal, transcending its own limits. There is sustained work on the guitars, marking the band’s final sound with their sound, riffs, chugs, and different arrangements.
This is possibly one of Chewelche’s best albums. At least in terms of production and craftsmanship, which are of high quality.
And speaking of quality, we must mention the artwork for this album, which has two different covers, at least in the version we are reviewing here. One for the slipcase and another for the disc itself. In both cases, we have two paintings that not only highlight continuity with previous albums and the band’s theme, but are also excellent in every way. And that’s not all. The design of the booklet is in keeping with this aesthetic, and of course, there are photos of the band and the lyrics to the songs included. In this case, the lyrics do not vary too much from what we already know from Chewelche, their lyrics being one of the fundamental factors of the band. Feelings of national belonging, political demands, and social protest are what stand out most in the band’s message, which nevertheless also manages to move us with the sincerity that characterizes them in their tribute to “Loco Ricardo,” for example.
The sound is another achievement of Chewelche. The album sounds heavy and vibrant, emphasizing the furious riffs and guitar solos. It was recorded in two different studios, both in the province of Neuquén, with mixing and mastering by Juan Bruno Basualto, the band’s guitarist.
And as a corollary to what is a great album, in addition to this compact disc version, a vinyl edition was also released, which is great for lovers of the physical format who disdain disposable digital formats. In that sense, “Sed De Resistencia” is a work that will surely bring the band much satisfaction, and will surely be enjoyed by those of us who love fierce, authentic Argentine heavy metal (like us!).
In support of this album, Chewelche released a lyric video for the song “Enigmas En El Cielo,” chosen as the lead single from “Sed De Resistencia.” Of course, we’ve included it below so you can watch and listen to it. And as usual, we’ve included Chewelche’s social media links so you can follow them, find out their latest news, and also know when they’re playing live, because a good album like this deserves to be played and heard live…
https://www.facebook.com/chewelche.ok
https://www.instagram.com/chewelche.gente.bravia.ok
