| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Mike Botello |
| Record Label: Mijaces | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: Mike Botello |
| Tracks: 17 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 63:49 |
Indigenous, the January of 2021 fourth solo album from Brentwood, Tennessee based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Botello, is a welcome surprise. Many identify with artist for his work in Awake, a power trio out of Austin, Texas that independently released in 1990 the full length custom cassette Spiritual Warfare home to a merging of Rush influenced progressive rock and catchy melodic hard rock and commercial metal. Botello went on musical hiatus until 2006 when he released the acoustic rock of his debut solo album A Timeless State followed by the straightforward hard rock laced with modern overtones of 2009 sophomore solo effort Rule Of Law. A Christmas album from 2010, A Botello Christmas, also attributes to the artist.
Indigenous represents Botello’s most powerful work to date, drawing upon full on metal territory - much to our delight! - while strongly influenced by the musical leanings of his past. No doubt, you will find a decided progressive basis to the album but also aspects of doom metal, traditional and power metal, blues based hard rock and even instrumental rock. A mammoth 17 tracks and over 60 minutes of music is delivered in the process, with a half dozen cuts shorter interlude pieces (many instrumental) that serve to tie together individual full-length songs encompassing the remaining track listing. Due to time and space limitations, I am going to focus on the full-length material and reference the interlude pieces as needed.
Lyrically, Indigenous is concept based. Further details from the artist (in reference to individual songs):
“From the first track to the last, it takes a path beginning with our carnal nature, leading to the consequences of sin, “Euphellum” to “Americaust”, leading to a warning in “Heed the Warning”, following a continuation of our self centeredness in “Sunday Faces” and “Secret Identity”, leading to being bound by this sinful life in “In the Midst of Chaos”, followed by salvation in “Serenity”, leading to a reckoning with our creator in “Evanescent” to preparing ourselves in being “The Remnant” that is described in the book of Revelation and in the book of Enoch.”
His previous solo releases also play an inspiring role:
“Time is but a measure… the beginning and the end: a context of life. A Spiritual Warfare that is bound to A Timeless State: never governed by the Rule Of Law. Ever focused on the Indigenous inhabitants of the earth: the spiritual battle ground… Time, is for mankind…’
Opener “Chasing The Dragon” reveals the newfound heavier Mike Botello side but also said variety from manifesting light European power/progressive metal nuances. Among albums lengthiest at six minutes, it begins to a spoken word intro and offbeat keyboards prior to gradually building until exploding for the vigorous riffs and animated drum rolls to carry its distance. An extended instrumental run pinpoints the electrifying lead guitar work of Tony Smith (Militia). Lyric snippet:
Nothing lingers farther from me
Till the final measure is in
To the master you will signal to fight
Till you realize evil abounds…
Enter Free! - (Salvation is free)
“I’m Down” tempers to a plodding mid-tempo form in also exhibiting its share of variances. The song flows its span interchanging between gently done, ethereal moments and others to deliver a thickly woven, plodding touch to mirror the doom-like. Refrain aligns with the caustic environs. Notable is manner in which artist lowers his signature classic tenor vocal delivery for a darker, mid-ranged resonance.
“The Nihilist” maintains the mid-tempo form but trending gritty, blues driven hard rock instead. Grainy rhythm guitars power in and out of the mix, with an emphatic Rez Band like statement revealing in the process alongside a jam fusion instrumental run to see blinding guitar leads and drum solos coalesce, noting how Botello’s intricate drum work is spot on throughout the album (he is a natural behind the drum kit). Lyric snippet:
The road to ruin nation is paved by your own hands
Your castle’s crumbling upon the shifting sand
There’s no use telling me you’re outside of His plan
Apart from HIM you WILL NOT STAND!
You nihilistic man!!!
One of my favorites ensues in eight minute Rush influenced progressive instrumental “Euphellum (The Demonic Deception)”. The jam based feel from “The Nihilist” carries over, as once me we are treating to drum and guitar solos in abundance, but tastefully so without overdoing it- all the while compelling bass ascends over the low end, referencing Botello’s well rounded work. The high level of musicianship displayed is a treat and help makes the song fill out its length. Of particular note are the poignantly done final seconds to bring to mind closing seconds to Saint instrumental “The Returning” (off Too Late For Living).
After four songs combining for twenty-four minutes of music, album switches gears with the truncated three to “The Realization”. I identify with it as one of albums more doom-like, transitioning between its acidic opening moments and remaining distance to see hulking guitars play a plundering role as low-end kicks up a chaotic storm.
Subsequent three cuts are in the minute and a half range to impress as one song cut into separate pieces. “Combing The Land” is a doom laden instrumental that joins lumbering bass and soaring feedback, while “Fate”, slowly moving with an ominous feel, and “Life Ever After”, contrasting with its forward demeanor and searing guitars, both feature a lone verse at the end.
“Heed The Warning” ups impulse, with a drum solo opening and jagged guitars giving way to the forward thinking trajectory moving forward. A torrent of energy rises to the surface, as scintillating bass and catchy chorus further elevate the blithe maneuverings. The perfectly placed lead guitar borders on jaw dropping. Lyric snippet:
Will you heed the warning!
Don’t you know there’s darkness everywhere!
Heed the warning!
Can’t you see that there’s power in the air!
Heed the warning!
The time will come to choose death over life
Heed the warning!
Now’s the time to make right – Now it’s time!
“Sunday Faces” powers forward to leading guitars from the get go, ranking among albums heaviest with its despoiling mindset and onerous progression to once more border on doom metal. Yet, close listen reveals a deft melody to diverge from the towering sentiments. The imploring feel to vocals further enhances. Lyric snippet:
You don’t need to face the throne
Running back to the unknown
Complete the course and make the answer known
Sealed fates dressed in these Sunday Faces
Return them to the pews as you please
This flame was built on eternal visions
How can we save face and believe
The ‘Sam Taylor’ placed sounds to “Secret Identity” help to make it another choice track. Yes, you will encounter your share of King’s X influences, the flowing The Beatle-esque vocal melodies give things away, but also those attributing to Galactic Cowboys, revealed in the copious underlying groove. You will also find subtle but creative time signatures ala Lovewar.
“In The Midst Of Chaos”, a three minute instrumental home to off kilter bass, and “Serenity”, also instrumental but at half the length in acoustic driven, give way to first of two closing tracks, “Evanescent”. What we have is another bass drive plodder, rumbling with its haunting, downcast feel but equally buffeting in terms of the forging guitars and scalding feedback. Building upon the progressive energy are periodic luminous moments to see genial guitars hold sway. Lyric snippet:
No one bends the meaning
It’s not what you can bare
It’s time to shun your feeling
Can’t see you
Lift the veil to see me
Only you can share
The passage of greater doing
No one’s really there
“The Remnant” ends Indigenous in every bit accomplished progressive form. It separates with an up-tempo sound, lively but fresh with an emanating guitar focus and thickly woven backing vocals to buttress the Middle Eastern influenced melody to hold sway. I particularly take to the Spanish guitar instrumental over a bed of lushly done guitar. Album ends in same manner it began to narration. Lyric snippet:
In Jesus name my faith proclaim
Unshakable
This oath I take my soul at stake
Unbreakable
Time has come now for deviation
As I disavow indoctrination
Let my thoughts turn to all creation
Indigenous leaves little doubt as to how it represents Botello’s finest artistic statement. Songwriting creativity separates, as does the high level of musicianship: artist proves adept from a vocal, drum and bass standpoint, while Tony Smith shines equally with his adept guitar playing. Musically, I appreciate the heavier metal-based framework in branching out therein- progressive, doom and power metal with straightforward hard rock twinges. Lone complaint is that the plethora of shorter interlude pieces potentially clutters the track listing, albeit without holding back the listening experience. Still, if a fan of the artist’s prior work, particularly Awake, or into any of the metal genres presented, then you will not be disappointed in Indigenous.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Chasing The Dragon” (5:50), “I’m Down” (4:34), “Rhythmic Deceptions” (1:44), “The Nihilist” (5:03), ““Euphellum (The Demonic Deception)” (8:43), “The Realization” (3:04), “Combing The Land” (1:16), “Fate” (1:42), “The Life Ever After” (1:42), “Heed The Warning” (4:12), “Prosody” (1:55), “Sunday Faces” (4:42), “Secret Identity” (4:05), “In The Midst Of Chaos” (3:00), “Serenity” (1:25), “Evanescent” (5:15), “The Remnant” (5:37)
Musicians
Mike Botello - Lead Vocals, Drums & Percussion, Bass, Keyboard & Programming, Guitars
Tony Smith - Guitars
Jason Barrett - Guitars
Mike Soliz - Backing Vocals
