Abel Gomez Of Lament Gives Us A Sneak Peek At Their Upcoming Album | “We Want To Return To Our Roots From The First Album”
To talk about Lament is to talk about history, about a long journey in the scene. A band that, from Mexico, managed to bring Latin American Metal to the forefront—and that is still alive, persevering, and fighting on. The cornerstone of Lament, Abel Gomez, is already a friend of the house, and he’s been sharing some details with us about what was announced a few days ago: Lament is currently working on a new album.
That new album will be titled “Determination,” and the band has already revealed its cover art; it’s set to be released in 2027. This new work will mark Lament’s return to its roots—those defined by the relentless 1997 album “Tears of a Leper.” “We want to return to the roots of our first album, “Tears of a Leper“,Abel told us, “…It’s not easy; it’s not simple. Very few bands manage it because artists are always evolving. An artist never stands still. These are new times, new mindsets… it’s very difficult”, he acknowledges, but understanding the challenge ahead, Lament’s frontman is aiming for more. “We’re going to try to recapture that ’90s sound—lots of acoustic passages, lots of melodies, lots of very rhythmic beats, even overly rhythmic ones—and we’re going to bring that sound back. I hope we succeed. So far, none of the band’s albums has been a letdown. Maybe many people long for the ’90s, but those days are gone, and we shouldn’t dwell on the past—we have to evolve. But on this new album, we definitely want to return to our roots.”
That return to Lament’s very earliest days couldn’t happen without one fundamental element. It’s true that Abel Gomez, in addition to being the band’s original drummer, eventually took the reins—and not only that, he contributed his vocals throughout the group’s entire history up to the present day, and indeed, he continues to fulfill that role today. But with “Determination,” there’s a nod that obviously references “Tears Of A Leper.”
Marco Pérez, who was that combative vocalist on Lament’s first album, returns to appear as a guest on “Determination”—something we’d already mentioned, but whose participation will truly bear fruit on this new album. “On this album, Marco Pérez will appear on one track, singing in both English and Spanish—meaning there will be two versions, one in Spanish and one in English”, Abel Gomez confirmed to us, before adding, “We’re happy to be working with him again, and he’s just as happy; he’s very engaged, and I hope it will be a great offering for listeners”; so if there was one thing Lament needed to return to its very earliest days, it was hearing Marco Pérez once again alongside Lament, and “Determination” will give us that pleasure once more.
The unveiled cover art for “Determination” sparks many ideas and thoughts and is worth taking a closer look at; however, Abel Gomez tells us what lies behind the concept and message of the new album: “We human beings are in a constant war against evil, against dark beings, very wicked people”, the leader of Lament told us. “We also have enemies on the spiritual side, and on the cover I want to illustrate what we’re currently experiencing. People who worship and serve Satan are called reptiles, reptiloids, or reptilians—just to give them some kind of representation”, he said, elaborating on that idea: “…some people think it’s literal. I’m not sure, but anyway, it’s meant to represent the struggle of the human being—who is still human—against the technology that has grown so much in this world, and against all the things that are said and discussed about artificial intelligence. In conclusion, we live in a fallen, perverse world where the human being is at the center of the battle, and we’re fighting against this horde of demons”, Gomez concluded.
For those who don’t know, Lament has been active for 33 years now. Along the way, there have been lineup changes, various albums, and so on, but the band—with Abel Gomez always at the helm—has never stopped moving forward. The passage of time leaves its mark, but Abel highlights the feelings evoked by Lament’s long history over the years. “It’s a very satisfying feeling, since it’s been 33 years of ministry” he acknowledges, but he also notes that “…Remember that we started in ’93, and it’s been wonderful to journey along and see how God provides for you and how, even with very few resources at times, God makes things happen.”
But delving deeper into the same idea, Abel also noted that “It’s not easy because many people probably think it’s just a matter of sitting down to write songs and releasing an album. To remain popular with people for so many years is very difficult, but the Lord has helped us this far; He has given us grace—all the credit goes to Him—and well, we hope to keep making music for the next 10 years, if God allows it” he concluded.
Lament is preparing for a new chapter in its long history—and perhaps even the most challenging one yet: returning to where it all began. If you’ve ever heard “Tears Of A Leper,” you know what we’re talking about. Of course, we don’t expect an exact replica, but we do hope for a return to those textures, to those special atmospheres that only Lament could bring to an album that, over time, became a true classic of the melodic Death Metal genre—and of Metal in general.
Of course, Lament’s story neither begins nor ends there, but “Determination” will undoubtedly be a new chapter, a new link in their long journey—and, of course, it certainly won’t be just another album.
To stay up to date on Lament’s latest news, here are their social media handles so you can follow them and stay informed. And, as is our custom, we’re sharing a track from their latest album to date, the excellent “Religión Zombie” from 2024’s “Shot Down But Not Destroyed”…
https://www.facebook.com/lamentbandmx
https://www.facebook.com/lamentrecords
https://www.instagram.com/lamentbandmx
