Website: Tierra Santa
The Inside Pulse:
Five albums in Spain yet not a whole lot of worldwide recognition, Tierra Santa blisters on with Mejor Morir en Pie. In a style that recalls elements of NWOBHM updated with a touch of power metal, their formula takes that of their contemporaries throughout mainland Europe. The difference? Tierra Santa sticks to their native language. It’s this which certainly makes them stand out, but also hampers their ability to appeal to a larger audience. Still, music is a universal language, and metal fans are one big welcoming family.
Positives: There are some lovely solos throught Mejor Morir en Pie, as well as very strong guitar harmonies. “Hoy Vivo por ti” is the most memorable offering on the album, even if it’s mostly due to a feeling of reminiscence to an earlier age of metal.
Negatives: Reminiscent of the baroque era of classical music, Tierra Santa frequently ties their musical phrases into a simple, calculated bow. Every verse/chorus/verse falls where it should, and each have a distinguishable conclusion. What this creates is an overwhelming feeling of predictability. Mejor Morir en Pie simply has no sense of adventure and stays firmly in a box of safety. And when there’s no adventure, listening feels more like work than play.
Cross-breed: Rage attempting radio-friendly rock with some coaching by Bleak House.
Reason To Buy: Curiosity, mostly. Surely Tierra Santa has its fans, but this album likely won’t win them any new ones.
