Release Date: May 25th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
En Ruinas - Tracklisting
1.13001 01:50
2.Status Quo 05:14
3.Andante 04:07
4.Wachuma 07:15
5.Horizontes Salvajes 04:15
6.En ruinas 05:59
7.Guerra 02:24
8.Mar desierto 08:24
Members
Boris Baltodano – bass
Rafael Paul – guitars
Diego Cartulin – drums, percussion, and keyboards
Diego Cartulin – effects and clean guitars
Review
En Ruinas is the fourth album from Psych Stoner Rockers Ancestro and this is my first time within their heavy and spaced out realm. The album is helped by the band using levels of Doom, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal and Cosmic Rock which all play a huge part for Ancestro exploring a more personal style of Instrumental music you initially expect. The record can be quite bleak and unforgiving with the distorted amplifiers playing a massive part transporting the listener to a destructive part of the cosmos where you feel multiple planets have been destroyed by a mysterious destructive force.
Ancestro feel inspired by the likes of SLEEP, HAWKWIND, MONOLORD, MONSTER MAGNET, KARMA TO BURN and EARTHLESS whilst creating their own great style of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal with the great use of keyboards and sound effects which is heard from the excellent tracks of 13001, Status Quo and Andante. There is a level of Progressive Rock appearing which gives an eerie Seventies Rock energy whilst employing some intricate areas of Nineties Doom, Grunge and Stoner based themes.
Ancestro make great use of SONIC MANIPULATION and AMPLIFIER DISTORTION throughout this album where it feels like sheer poetry at times. The band are equally wonderful and brilliantly creative when joining up areas of Post-Metal, Prog Rock, Space Rock and Acid Rock for a sound that’s superbly cinematic. This feels like a soundtrack to classic DISASTER movie being played for the WEEDIAN community to call their own.
En Ruinas does have a great storyline holding everything together as the album is explained below by the band themselves:
“Inspired by life in Trujillo, Peru, the album explores the city’s transformation—from its once combative spirit to a present shaped by decay, loss of identity, and day to day violence.. Across eight tracks, it moves through symbols and moments of this decline, forming a critical and emotional sonic testimony.”
The most thrilling moments of the album is when Ancestro fully explores their Post-Metal and Atmospheric Sludge identity even further which allows the record to be quite violent within the volume department. As Ancestro lay down some vicious sounds along the way on tracks such as Status Quo, Andante, Wachuma, En Ruinas and Mar desierto. My favourite aspect about thai album is how Ancestro have included their Peruvian heritage into the album as you feel immersed by the culture especially with the different sounds, trippy effects and massive LOW & SLOW environments the band just throw in for good measure.
I’ve listened to Ancestro’s previous albums but this is by far their heaviest and boldest record to date. This is quite forward thinking with the band touching upon areas of music they haven’t played before. You’ll even experience some classic Eighties Heavy Metal instrumental solos along the way which shows you how the band are always thinking outside the box.
En Ruinas is an absolute MONSTER of a record and one of the heaviest Doom/Stoner Metal albums I’ve experienced from the South American underground scene in quite some time. Add this one to your collection folks. You won’t regret it. Awesome stuff.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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