"Ill Nino uses different styles of music, there are some parts that sound like Static-X, Soulfly, P.O.D. and Spineshank. It is hard to describe so it is well worth a listen. Here are my individual song reviews:1. God Save Us (9/10) Vocals sound similar to Static-X and has a more melodic Chorus. Bridge is very short, yet a highlight.2. If You Still Hate Me (10/10) Great combination and quick change from screaming to singing. Great guitar riffs, the 3rd best song on the album.3. Unreal (9/10) Intro makes it sound like the first two, but it is quite different. It's the 2nd single and it has a similar sound to P.O.D. in the Chorus, with great lyrics.4. Nothing's Clear (8/10) Sounds at times like Soulfly and in Chorus, Christian's vocals are crisp and good.5. What Comes Around (9/10) Good choice for 1st single. It probably contributed to a lot of sales because of it's rap-style verses and softer Chorus and Bridge.6. Liar (10/10) Excellent song all around, meaningful lyrics and agression. Great drumming. The 2nd best song on the album!7. Rumba (9/10) Annoying intro, but don't judge by that. A great song which maintains heaviness and melody. The song has spanish chorus in addition to the words "Swallow the style that I bring you"8. Predisposed (9/10) Similar to Unreal but maintains its own style. A song about innocent suffering, then rebelling.9. I Am Loco (10/10) My favourite song on the album because of the variations of music genres and the amazing meaningful lyrics. It blends fast-paced Metal with electronic sounds and melodic rock.10. No Murder (9/10) Christian's vocals amaze me once again with his ability to sing with 3 different voices.11. Rip Out Your Eyes (9.5/10) What an amazing song, almost good enough to be perfect, but the lyrics lack a bit of explaining.12. Revolution/Revolucion (9/10) A great song that is about none other than Revolution! Maybe to do with Christian's thoughts on Brazil. Highlight is when he shows us his vocal talent at the very end "Revolution/Revolucion".13. With You (8/10) A very slow, love song. I enjoy Nu-Metal bands that put a soft song last on their album. That shows their love for good music, no matter what the style. They manage to make a soft song GOOD!! It isn't anything special but is a good end song.This album is one of the best albums in my collection and should be in yours too! Go out and buy this online or in the music store. Also look for "Confessions", the new Ill Nino album which promises to be even heavier and diverse... out in September."
Revolution in Nu-Metal
Kabulnation | Windham, ME USA | 06/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Contradictions that fill expectations of "Ill-Nino" pop out from the band's debut disc. The gruesome cover and politically-charged song titles imply a harder-than-ever Thrash-fest that never stops, although the band is capable of this sound. At t5he same time, the Spanish surnames band symbol imply gimmicktry, but Ill-Nino's Spanish lyrics and Latin flavor enhance the music becoming overdone. At times, "Revolution Revolucion" seems almost too sedate, and it does fall into some usual "rap-metal" trappings in spite of itself, but overall it is an excellent debut for fans who lean on the more cerebral side of the modern metallic endeavors.
1.God Save Us - 8/10
2.If You Still Hate Me - 6/10
3.Unreal - 7/10
4.Nothing's Clear - 5/10
5.What Comes Around - 7.5/10
6.Liar - 9.5/10
7.Rumba - 9/10
8.Predisposed - 8/10
9.I Am Loco - 10/10
10.No Murder - 4/10
11.Rip Out Your Eyes - 9.5/10
12.Revolution/revolucion - 7/10
13.With You - 6/10
Total - 96.5/130 or 7.4/10"
"The gods want something"
mwreview | Northern California, USA | 05/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm mainly into metal from the `80s and have very few albums from the `00s, but this CD cover caught my eye in a record store a few months back. It reminded me of the mummified corpses and skeletons on display during Mexico's Day of the Dead. I discovered that Ill Nino is a Latino metal band, so this made sense. I popped it into the listening station and was blown away. There is so much depth and so many styles to their music. At times it is angry death metal with bellowing vocals. At other times it is very melodic and pleasant, almost mainstream. Then they throw in some Spanish lyrics and Latin rhythms. The same tracks can urge the listener to hum and sing along and then cause the pulse to rise and the fists to clench. I'm not a fan of Death Metal or Latin music, but the combination with heavy rock melodies just seems to work. This CD finds its way in my player a lot!
"God Save Us": Has a Korn-like opening with a melodic, sing-along break in between, a beautiful guitar piece, then explodes again.
"If You Still Hate": There is more of a Latino sound here and, during its death metal parts, is even angrier than the opening: "I wish you dead!!!!"
"Unreal": Awesome! Very catchy with great vocals. When the guitar kicks in with the second verse of the chorus, it's a killer ride! Not as much screaming on this one so it's more accessible.
"Nothing's Clear": More Latin sound here (Latin guitar) plus more Spanish lyrics at the bridge. Another of my favorites. More harsh than "Unreal" but has accessible, catchy parts.
"What Comes Around": I love the chorus to this one--"I have nothing to say, but I feel like my mouth is open." Rap-like verse with Latin part as well.
"Liar": Wow, all kinds of stuff going on here. Storming drums with a very catchy part at "You say things would be the same." Harsh, Korn-like at times with angry rap-like verses and even record-scratching.
"Rumba": Another stand-out. Dominated by the quote: "The gods want something."
"Predisposed": another favorite of mine. Not as catchy and memorable but still an accessible song that's not too noisy. I like the calm guitar interlude.
"I Am Loco": Angry, furious lyrics with record-scratching. Harsh yet still melodic. Lots of stuff going on here.
"No Murder": Explodes with perhaps the angriest, heaviest stuff on the album. In contrast, the chorus is very catchy and one of my favorite parts on the CD. It even harmonizes. Both beautiful and ugly to the point of blood-curdling.
"Rip Out Your Eyes": Not as memorable save for the gut-wrenching bellowing of the title.
"Revolution/Revolucion": Now this one is very memorable. The chorus is awesome! My second favorite behind "Unreal." Then exploding with "Revolucion!!!" at the end.
"With You": Latin-flavor love song. All right. Nothing special. They should stick to their "Deathmex" stuff."
WOW
heavy music lover | 09/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ill Nino's Roadrunner debut is amazing. If you like heavy music in general, you should get this CD. After downloading the tracks "God Save Us," "If You Still Hate Me," "Nothing's Clear," and "What Comes Around," I had to buy this album, and I was not disappointed with what I got. The songs are both incredibly heavy and beautifully melodic, with a constant intensity that you just can't get enough of. Cristian Machado's vocals are also unbelievable; his screaming/growling is some of the best I've ever heard, but he also has an awesome singing voice, both of which are finely showcased all over "Revolution/Revolucion." Ill Nino is a great new band with a lot of potential, and I can't wait to hear some more from them. By the way, I downloaded the 4 tracks I mentioned above from roadrunnerrecords and illnino websites."
Don't let their name fool you..
player31 | CLearwater | 03/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, yes when I first saw that there was a band out there called 'Ill Nino' I said to myself "Oh, Christ has it gotten that low to use weather patterns for a name?!". Honestly though, this cd is some of the best 'nu' stuff out there. Most of the bad reviews come from people who have never even heard their music, or just heard the radio edit of "What Comes Around" (the radio edit I heard is horrible...all of the screaming is cut out, and comes off as pretty weak)...
Ok, on to the music. The defining characteristic of Ill Nino probably be their overall tight sound. The lyrics are somewhat mediocre, but its in the delivery when they shine. The ability to be able to change tempo is amazing, I mean the transition on "What Comes Around" at the end is so seemless, and I had to skip back and hear it again. The Latin lyrics are cool, just for that extra spike of change. The best songs are the aforementioned as well as "God Save Us", "Unreal", "If You Still Hate Me", "Revolution Revolucion" and the best "With You". "With You" is so cool just because the fact that I was waiting the whole cd for just one full on latin-acoustic song and got it.
The only problem I have with Ill Nino comes in an interview I read in which the lead singer (Its so funny, when I had originally heard them I pictured an average sized guy. When I saw them live this big 6'5 255lbs guy starts singing) stated that he wanted to different. I don't know, I guess it's knitpicking but the idea that being yourself, not necessarily different, should come first. Well, it's only a minor problem for a new great band."