Interview with Pato Saucedo from Raza Fuerte |

“I’ve Always Been a Lover Of The Sound And Music of The 80s”

It’s difficult to separate memories from the present, especially when your memory only evokes pleasant moments. That’s what happens to me when I listen to the demos of Raza Fuerte, a band from the northern part of Buenos Aires that somehow managed to make enough of an impact on me at the dawn of the 21st century to leave me with fond memories and great stories. I met them by chance at one of those festivals that used to be held at Cemento, an old rock venue in Buenos Aires, and from there, the dates that both Pato Saucedo and Raza Fuerte used to organize with many different underground bands in the town of Tigre, on Avenida Cazón. There are thousands of anecdotes, but that’s not the reason for this article, although I’d love to share them (it would take a loooong time). Raza Fuerte is back performing live, proving that the band is still going strong and better than ever. With a new lineup and new songs to present, the occasion will be on March 28 at the Marquee in Buenos Aires, accompanying Lázaro, Barni, and Miguel Roldán, so we thought it would be interesting to have a chat with an old and beloved metal warrior like Pato Saucedo, and this is the result…

How long has it been since Raza Fuerte last performed live? What happened to make them take so long?

“The last time RAZAFUERTE performed live was in August 2022. We took some time off to write new songs and we are finishing recording a 4-song EP.”

Now, in 2026, Raza Fuerte is returning to the stage in March alongside Miguel Roldán, Lázaro, and Barni. How did this opportunity come about? Is this show a kickoff for other performances later on?

“We think March 28 will be a party, since we’ll be meeting iconic bands from the 90s and 2000s at the festival that are still going strong today. The opportunity came about thanks to our friend, producer, and fan Ale Galeano. He always kept us in mind, and even though he may not know it, he is one of the reasons the band is still around. The idea is to start the year this way, and if people are into it, let this be the kickoff.”

Since its beginnings, Raza Fuerte has had several lineup changes. Who will be in the band this time around?

“Throughout all these years (1994-2026), several musicians and friends have passed through the band. I make the distinction because it’s worth it, and I believe that I have reached a state of maturity in the genre and in the ideas that I always wanted to express in the lyrics and enjoy the music in all its splendor. That’s why today RAZAFUERTE is consolidated as follows: Guillermo “Pulpo” Saucedo on drums, Walter ‘Volter’ González on guitar, and me, Pato Saucedo, on bass and vocals.”

What are your expectations for this March date?

“Our expectations are the best, always positive. Each date is both a challenge and a party.”

I must confess that over time I lost track of you a little, and as far as I followed you, I knew that Raza Fuerte had several demos released. Have you been able to release an official album or any new material recently?

“There is an album recorded in 2009 that was never released, and now we are finishing an EP that will soon be available on all platforms, with a more current style and sound and less hard rock. More power!”

In March, in addition to Raza Fuerte’s classics, I suppose there will be a few new songs. With that in mind, are there any plans to record new material?

“The idea for this show is to open with the classics and close with five new songs. The songs are already 80% recorded, and four of them will be featured on the EP that will be released in 2026.”

I remember that in the beginning, Raza Fuerte was more on the side of national heavy metal with the influence of V8, but then they shifted towards a style more influenced by 80s heavy metal, like Judas Priest. How did that evolution happen, and what can we expect from Raza Fuerte musically speaking today?

“I’ve always been a lover of the sound and music of the ’80s, and obviously, it goes without saying that my influences were Judas Priest, Dio, Accept, plus the little we had nationally, such as V8, El Reloj, etc. Today, Volter is in charge of musical composition. I only take care of the lyrics, and he knew how to find the balance to continue sounding like Raza, but with a more current sound without losing the essence.”

One of the things that always stands out about Raza Fuerte is that imprint in the lyrics, both personal and social, with which we metalheads have identified. Do you think Christian metal needs to generate that identification with the band’s message?

“From my purely personal point of view, I don’t think Christian metal exists. Music is entertainment, fun, etc. You pay to go see a show. I do believe there are bands with Christian members. And I’ll tell you why, in my opinion, Christian metal no longer exists. If I want to use music as a means to spread the word of God to people, and thus call myself an evangelist, I can’t charge for preaching. In other words, do I speak for money, and without money I keep my mouth shut? Or if I don’t get the fee, I’m not going to take the message anywhere? Strange but true, you condition the message for money. Then you have to see how the so-called Christians who say they hate the devil and fight him in their daily lives, exorcise him in church and so on, you see them after every concert taking pictures making the sign of the supposed enemy (editor’s note: referring to the gesture of making horns with the hand), contradictory, isn’t it? It’s my purely personal opinion on why Christian metal doesn’t exist.”

Why has the band, despite its years on the scene, had such a hard time releasing albums and maintaining continuity?

“The truth is that we’ve always had a hard time finding a guitarist who fits in with our personal and musical thinking. Before, the lyrics were about love and freedom, but today they’re about looking beyond, that there’s always another truth, an evolution…”

Many believe that believing in God and heavy metal don’t go hand in hand. What do you think about that?

“I think that’s true. I think the only thing that can go hand in hand with God is a bookstore. I’ll say it again: music is entertainment, it’s poetry, it’s what we want to listen to when we’re feeling down, when we’re feeling good. As a musician, I can tell you that when I started out, I wrote many lyrics dedicated to God, but I also dedicated lyrics to my children, my parents, and my friends. God is something else.”

In general terms, how do you see the Metal scene in Argentina?

“I see it as poor and lacking in references, but I have high hopes…”

How important is metal in your life and what does it mean to you to keep fighting for metal?

“How important is it? Fifty percent, my children, and the other fifty percent, metal, just like that. I live writing and trying to bring this revelation to anyone who wants to listen.”

Thank you very much for your time with us, and I’ll leave you the last space for whatever you want to say and convey to our readers and followers….

“I want to thank you, Gustavo, for the space and for giving me the freedom to express my thoughts. Everyone is invited on March 28, we’ll be waiting for you, and I send you a big hug, thank you!!!”

Raza Fuerte continues to resist and fight for metal, as it should. 2026 looks promising for the band, and as a first move, on March 28th they will be performing, as we said, alongside Lázaro, Barni, and Miguel Roldan at the Marquee in Buenos Aires. Hopefully, this will be the kickoff to a good year for Raza Fuerte, as they deserve. In the meantime, here’s a little taste of what Raza Fuerte is all about, for those who’ve never had the chance to hear them…