07.08. Brujeria

Brujeria

Long before series such as Breaking Bad, Narcos, and Mayans M.C. popularised the topic of cartels and violence, BRUJERIA brought this world to the extreme metal scene with brutal force back in 1989.

Founded in secret and surrounded by myths, the Mexican deathgrind band mixed elements such as drug wars, revenge, Afro-Caribbean magic and demonic possession into their sound from early on. With songs like Matando Güeros, La Migra and Marijuana, BRUJERIA had a decisive influence on the subculture between hardcore punk and death metal.

The members hide their identities with scarves and masks. Rumour has it that frontman Juan Brujo surrounds himself with musicians from bands such as NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS and AT THE GATES, as well as stars from series such as Orange Is The New Black – but no one knows for sure.

With classics such as Raza Odiada (1995) and Brujerizmo (2000), as well as current, socially critical songs such as COVID – 666 (2020), BRUJERIA delivers uncompromising music on the edge of madness. The band combines extreme metal riffs with Mexican storytelling, similar to traditional corridos – only more radical: it’s about drugs, violence, prison and revenge.

Their debut album Matando Güeros (1993) was so shocking that many record stores returned it as soon as the lyrics were translated. But the cult following was unstoppable. In 1995, Raza Odiada declared war on then-California Governor Pete Wilson and supported the Zapatistas.

In 2000, Melody Maker praised the album Brujerizmo as ‘wonderfully crazy thrash,’ while NME spoke of ‘hyper-brutal chaos with a comically brilliant ending.’ In 2016, the band returned with Pocho Aztlan, now on the Nuclear Blast label.

With their current album Esto Es Brujeria (2023), they have finally arrived in the post-pandemic present – ready to unleash their anger at a torn society once again. BRUJERIA are like ghosts of anarchy: always ready to strike – armed with riffs, rage and black humour.