Ill Nino
"One Nation Underground"
(Roadrunner Records)
"One Nation Underground," produced by Chavarri & Eddie Whol (36 Crazyfists, Anthrax) is the follow up to the band's sophomore effort, "Confession." "We all stepped up our game for this one," comments singer Christian Machado. With a lyrical depth that goes beyond the traditional "relationship gone bad," Machado tackles subjects including the plight of little kids growing up with little hope in South America and the struggle of revolutionary icon Che Guevara. The first single, "What You Deserve," is a look at people who claim to have the answers, promise the world but don't deliver. Says Machado, "When we turn knowledge into a possession and intelligence into a vanity we leave no room for possibilities." Other stand out tracks on the album include the passionate "La Liberacion Of Our Awakening," the catchy "All I Ask For" and the Spanish guitar tinged "My Pleasant Torture."
Ill Nino formed in late 1999, signed to Roadrunner in 2000 and went on to record their 2001 debut, "Revolution, Revolution." Strong airplay for their first single, "What Comes Around," and slots on both the Ozzfest and Jagermeister tours in 2002 helped the album sell almost 190,000 copies. 2003's "Confession" spawned the hit "How Can I Live" which was featured on the "Freddy Vs. Jason" soundtrack and went on to sell 200,000 copies in the US and 400,000 worldwide. Ill Nino is Machado (vocals), Chavarri (drums), Ahrue Luster (guitar), Jardel Paisante (guitar), Laz Pina (bass) and Danny Couto (percussion).
"One Nation Underground" is the sound of a band who has grown album by album, a band that has discovered that volume doesn't necessarily equal power and that the emotion of a salsa rhythm can at times surpass a barreling thrash riff. "One Nation Underground" is Ill Nino at their finest.
