Back in October 1996, ARS AMANDI was founded by Dani Aller. A stable line-up afterwards, ARS AMANDI released 2001 demo Autóctono, featuring 5 tracks – which granted them a recording deal with Pies Records. 2003 was the year the band was considered ‘upcoming act of the year’.
Preceded by the CD-Single Escuchando al Corazón, En Tierra Firme started being recorded February 6th at the Estudios El Cielo, Madrid, with V. M. Arias as producer (BARÓN ROJO, MURO, etc.). The result is an album full of melody and the galloping energy characteristic of broadly speaking “folk music”. En Tierra Firme features the guest participations of a handful of very well-known Spanish artists, namely the complete MÄGO DE OZ team, Walter Giardino (RATA BLANCA), David Toledano (CRIENIUM).
Musically, the present album seems to justify the hype around ARS AMANDI having created a new music category: Rock Castellano, that is to say Rock music sung in Spanish. It also means that a significant lot of folk music elements are there to be heard. In addition to singing, Dani Aller also plays the traditional instruments dulzaina and pito castellano, which could be rendered as bagpipe and flute or Castilian horn.
I must admit that the first few listening sessions (strictly as regards vocals) were somewhat entertaining, because I cannot quite get used to music sung in Spanish – but the more the CD spins, the more one eventually starts liking them. And the fact is that they do not bother me anymore. Not bearing in mind the fact that Spaniards usually value their own mother language, which is an option.
The very good surprise about this album though is the way the traditional instruments are played – the opener Escuchando al Corazón made me think I was listening to a return to good old WAYLANDER (Reawakening Pride Once Lost-era), but that is a consequence of using similar-sounding instruments, more so than holding this as a reference band. There are some heavier moments in the album, notably the IRON MAIDEN-inspired Tierra Firme and Imperio Traídor.
To sum it up, Rock Castellano is a successful mixture of hard ‘n ‘ heavy with traditional Spanish folk music, quite catchy and radio-friendly. Favourite tracks are the title track and Imperio Traídor. Pies Records usually recruit bands with excellent taste and skill for music – such is the case with ARS AMANDI, VAHLADIAN, and ETERNITY, amongst others.
Cover Ars Amandi – En Tierra Firme Front
Ars Amandi – No Queda Sino Batirnos