From Matamoros, Mexico, My Place Was Taken started in 2014 when vocalist Jesus Salaz and guitarist Abraham Barbieri met to discuss the drugs and violence destroying their hometown and decided the time was right for a heavy band that could bring a message of hope, love, and faith. The band recorded their self-titled ep in 2015 that gained them some attention in the Mexican metal scene and signed with Rottweiler Records at the end of 2016 for their second ep Imparables, which also saw the addition of Helix Nebula on bass and Daniel Castaneda on drums. During a tour of Mexico, My Place Was Taken shared the stage with Grave Robber, which brought them to the attention of Rottweiler Records owner Shawn Browning and led to the partnership that released Imparables.
From the opening guitar salvo and the pounding, grinding rhythms fueled by ultra-fast double bass MPWT sets the tone for the ep. This is pure brutality. Deep growled unintelligible vocals alternate with higher pitched near shrieking in a great tradeoff style as the song slows to punishing grind and then jumps to near light speed for a short guitar solo and then repeating. Lyrics are in Spanish but really with brutal deathcore, would you really notice?
Cordero Y Leon, starts out with a bit of a winding guitar riff before settling into the short staccato machine gun-fire like pounding. Jesus Salaz vocals shift between the deep growls and near shrieks, while Daniel Castenada gets has to be getting a good cardio workout in on drums. Abraham Barbieri has some great guitar licks throughout the ep, which is a nice surpise and this song picks up a bit of a groove supported by Helix Nebula’s bass line. I like the variation in tempo and pacing and arrangements of the songs as without it, it may become too monotonous.
“Mi Familia” continues to mix things up a bit in terms of style, showing the band is capable of more than ultra-fast and heavy deathcore. Make no mistake the song is still incredibly heavy and fits well with the other tracks on the ep, but it’s just not a fast and the band makes good use of silence from the guitars and bass, letting the drums speak loudly.
As if to remind you that they can play fast, “Guerra Interna” starts out fast but then slows to more of a grinding pace, no less powerful and “Sociedad Demente” again picks of a bit of groove in the opening riff and verse sections almost nearing a melody but still way too heavy for that.
My Place Was Taken is one of those bands that is not for everyone, but there is a good bit of variety in the song arrangements and structure that keeps the music interesting. I’m reminded of the band I Built the Cross, who I liked, and as they played a similar style. The kind of music that when played in public tends to scare people. Imparables is filled with heavy, dark pounding riffs and screams and at times a bit of a sense of chaos that adds a great edge to those songs.
Rating: 8/10
Written by John Jackson
Tracklist
1. Imparables
2. Cordero Y Leon
3. Mi Familia
4. Guerra Interna
5. Sociedad Demente
Band Members
Jesus Salaz – Vocals
Daniel Castaneda – Drums
Abraham Barberi – Guitar
Helix Nebula – Bass
Record Label: Rottweiler Records, March 2018
Weblinks: Facebook / Instagram / Noisetrade / Soundcloud / Bandcamp
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Lyric video for ‘Imparables’