Ill Niño World: New album "Dead New World" out now!

VicTorV Ep. 66: Ill Nino Takes Over VicTorV

2011-02-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

Restore the Insanity Tour 2011 (USA, Australia & Europe)

2011-01-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

ILL NINO is proud to announce our return to the US with our new headlining tour "Restore the Insanity" 2011. Supporting are ANEW REVOLUTION, EKOTREN, and FASHION BOMB!

Jan 18: Intersection - Grand Rapids, MI
Jan 19: The Eagles Theater - Pontiac, MI
Jan 20: Reggie – Chicago, IL
Jan 21: Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
Jan 25: Marquis Theater - Denver, CO
Jan 27: Key Club - West Hollywood, CA
Jan 28: Last Day Saloon - Santa Rosa, CA
Jan 29: Feelgoods - Las Vegas, NV
Feb 01: Backstage Live - San Antonio, TX
Feb 02: The Gig - Beaumont, TX
Feb 03: Trees - Dallas, TX
Feb 04: Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Feb 05: The City Club of Houma - Houma, LA
Feb 07: Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Feb 10: The Norva - Norfolk, VA
Feb 11: Jaxx Nightclub - Springfield, VA
Feb 13: Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
Feb 15: Palladium-MA - Worcester, MA
Feb 16: The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
Feb 17: Santos Party House - New York, NY
Feb 18: The Wescott Theater - Syracuse, NY
Feb 19: Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA

Soundwave Festival in Australia, with IRON MAIDEN, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, SLAYER, STONE SOUR and many others:

Feb 26: RNA Showgrounds - Brisbane
Feb 27: Eastern Creek Raceway - Sydney
Mar 04: Showgrounds - Melbourne
Mar 05: Bonython Park - Adelaide
Mar 07: TBC - Perth

"Sidewaves" dates in Australia, with DEVILDRIVER, ALL THAT REMAINS, NONPOINT:

Mar 02: The Forum - Sydney
Mar 03: Billboard - Melbourne

Additionally, the band will be touring Europe with BREED 77. Tour dates are as follows:

Mar 12: 229 - London, United Kingdom
Mar 14: Manchester Moho Live - Manchester, United Kingdom
Mar 15: King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Mar 17: Nottingham Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Mar 18: Queen's Hall - Nuneaton, United Kingdom
Mar 19: Pontins - Wales, United Kingdom
Mar 20: Millennium Music Hall - Cardiff, United Kingdom
Mar 21: Concorde 2 - Brighton, United Kingdom
Mar 23: Effenaar - Eindhoven, Netherlands
Mar 24: Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany
Mar 25: Matrix - Bochum, Germany
Mar 28: Knust - Hamburg, Germany
Mar 30: SO36 - Berlin, Germany
Apr 02: Rock Planet - Pinarella Ra, Italy
Apr 05: Szene Wien - Vienna, Austria
Apr 06: Backstage - Munich, Germany
Apr 07: Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg, Germany

Against The Wall (Official Video)

2010-11-29T14:57:00.000-08:00

"Against The Wall" video behind the scenes

2010-10-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

"Dead New World" OUT NOW!

2010-10-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

Order via Victory Records & grab it on iTunes; prelisten the first single Against The Wall; listen 9-minute album preview here.

DEAD NEW WORLD, the follow-up to 2008's ENIGMA was self-produced, with co-production coming from Clint Lowery (SEVENDUST) and Sahaj Ticotin (RA), and mixed by Eddie Wohl (36 CRAZYFISTS, ANTHRAX, SMILE EMPTY SOUL). The album artwork was created by Tim Butler of XIII Designs (DISTURBED, SLIPKNOT, METALLICA, SLAYER, MICHAEL JACKSON).

"Dead New World" track listing:

01. God Is Only For The Dead
02. The Art Of War
03. Against The Wall
04. Mi Revolucion
05. Bleed Like You
06. Serve The Grave
07. If You Were Me
08. Ritual
09. Killing You, Killing Me
10. How Could I Believe
11. Bullet With Butterfly Wings (SMASHING PUMPKINS cover)
12. Scarred

Dead New World album preview

2010-10-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

"We dedicate this album to all of our amazing fans. To the ones that have been with us since 2000 & the ones that just heard of us last night. Thank you ALL!!! I hope you enjoy this killer record preview. Our new CD is an absolute must have for any metal fan. Buy it, put it on, crank it up, & rock out!!!"

Stream 'Against The Wall'

2010-10-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Band message: "Maniacs!"

2010-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

The band have posted the following message on their MySpace page:

What can we say, we're back. I hope you maniacs are as excited as we are. A lot has happened since our last blog. Most importantly, we have completed our latest album "Dead New World". OCT. 26TH is the official release date. We can't wait for you guys to pick up this album. It is definitely one killer CD. "Dead New World" preview coming this Tuesday, OCT. 19TH.

We have just returned from our video shoot in Virginia Beach. Director Scott Hansen is an incredibly talented director & we were very psyched to be working with him. All I can say is wait until you see the footage. We had a great time & the shoot was intense. The first video will be for our upcoming single "Against The Wall".

We want to send a big shout out to all the nino fans who came out on our last tours of Russia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, & China. We hope to see you all again very soon. Thank you for the great memories!!

Australia, don't forget that we'll be ripping it up at Soundwaves 2011. The tour of all tours! For the rest of our awesome fans, don't despair, we love you all! We will be announcing Tour Dates for the U.S. & Europe in the weeks to come. We'll keep you posted!

"Dead New World". OCT. 26TH

Get it, blast it, rock the F**K out, and let us know what songs you would like to hear on the upcoming Dead New World Tour.

"Bleed Like You" videoshoot

2010-10-13T10:58:00.001-07:00

Preview all "Dead New World" tracks

2010-10-11T12:30:00.001-07:00

Listen to 30 seconds previews of all tracks from "Dead New World" at Amazon

Preview 4 "Dead New World" tracks

2010-10-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Listen to a 30 second preview of the new single "Against The Wall":

Over at TheNewReview you can listen to 30 second previews of "Mi Revolucion", "Scarred (My Prison)" and "Serve The Grave".

The reviewer gave Ill Nino 4.5 out of 5: "Even with the one minor hiccup, Dead To The World is nothing short of fantastic. Ill Niño have managed to mix the ferocity and melody of all four previous releases together creating the leanest, meanest and most beautifully violent album of their career."

"Against The Wall" first single from "Dead New World"

2010-10-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ill Nino have chosen the song “Against The Wall” to serve as the first single from their forthcoming album “Dead New World“. The song is scheduled to impact at radio on October 19th, while the album will arrive in stores on October 26th through Victory. In the meantime, the track listing has been revealed for “Dead New World” and can be found below:

01 – “God Is Only For The Dead”
02 – “The Art Of War”
03 – “Against The Wall”
04 – “Mi Revolucion”
05 – “Bleed Like You”
06 – “Serve The Grave”
07 – “If You Were Me”
08 – “Ritual”
09 – “Killing You, Killing Me”
10 – “How Could I Believe”
11 – “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” (Smashing Pumpkins cover)
12 – “Scarred“

Dutch review of 'Dead New World' (9/10)

2010-10-09T11:04:00.001-07:00

"Waarom zou je een nieuwe soep maken als de ingrediënten al goed zijn verdeeld. Het valt wel op dat het gruntwerk wel wat meer is toegepast dan normaal. Dat is het toezicht/luisterpunt van de fan. De nieuwkomer zal hiervan smullen, want het draagt zoveel elementen dat het elke metalfan wel kan raken. Met een flink luisterend oor hoor je de elementen zo goed, maar zelfs als pure achtergrondmuziek is het genieten."

Read here at ragherrie.com

'Dead New Word' - artwork, pre-order

2010-09-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Pre-order 'Dead New World' via Victory Records ($12.98), or the package deal ($25.00) with a limited edition T-Shirt, custom Ill Nino bandanna and the new album. You can also pre-order at:

Amazon (Oct 25: $13.98)

EMP Merchandising (Oct 15: €16,99)

EMP Merchandising (Oct 15: £13.99)

CD Universe (Oct 26: $11.18)

Danny recording percussion

2010-09-26T10:18:00.001-07:00

Ahrue and Diego chat about new album

2010-09-03T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ahrue and Diego chat about the upcoming new album, Dead New World and you get to hear some riffs to! enjoy! and dont forget to get the new album when its released this November!

All credit goes to Hollywood Music Magazine.

Greetings from Laz

2010-08-25T12:50:00.001-07:00

youtube.com/user/metalonlinecom

ILL NINO confirmed for Australia's SOUNDWAVE 2011?

2010-08-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

According to what appears to be a leaked poster for the 2011 edition of Australia's Soundwave festival, IRON MAIDEN will headline next year's event, with SLAYER, SLASH, ROB ZOMBIE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and ILL NINO also joining the bill.

The official Soundwave lineup will be announced tomorrow (Thursday, August 5).

According to the purported poster for the festival, the following acts will take part in the five-date tour:

30 SECONDS TO MARS
36 CRAZYFISTS
A SKYLIT DRIVE
ALESANA
ALL THAT REMAINS
ANBERLIN
ASKING ALEXANDRIA
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
BAYSIDE
BREATHE CAROLINA
DEVILDRIVER
DOMMIN
EVERY AVENUE
FOXY SHAZAM
GANG OF FOUR
NEW FOUND GLORY
GASLIGHT ANTHEM
HIGH ON FIRE
I SEE STARS
ILL NINO
IRON MAIDEN
KYLESA
LESS THAN JAKE
MAD CADDIES
MAYDAY PARADE
MELVINS
MONSTER MAGNET
MXPX
NEVER SHOUT NEVER
NEW FOUND GLORY
NONPOINT
PENNYWISE
PRIMUS
PROTEST THE HERO
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
RISE TO REMAIN
ROB ZOMBIE
SEVENDUST
SLASH
SLAYER
SOCIAL DISTORTION
STONE SOUR
SUM 41
TAKING DAWN
TERROR
THE ATARIS
THE BLACKOUT
THE BRONX
THE MAINE
THE STARTING LINE
THE SWORD
THERE FOR TOMORROW
THIRD EYE BLIND
TRASH TALK
VEARA

Soundwave 2011 dates:

February 26 - Brisbane
February 27 - Sydney
March 04 - Melbourne
March 05 - Adelaide
March 07 - Perth

Source: blabbermouth.net

Ill Nino postpones first 6 European shows

2010-07-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

It is with much regret that ILL NINO must cancel the 1st week of shows for our upcoming European tour. Our singer Christian was hospitalized last week, and after many tests, found out he has 6 herniated discs, and a pressured nerve against his spine.

Cris is going through major treatment and rehabilitation, to be able to get back to normal. We all wish Cristian a speedy recovery, as he can't wait to get back and play for you all, as we all do!!!

After Cristian undergoes the necessary therapy for his back, we will now start our European Festival dates on Friday, August 6th, at the Wacken Festival, and finish on August 22nd.

We apologize for any incovenience, but it was unexpected and beyond our control.

ILL NINO

Upcoming tourdates:

Fri 06 Aug
Wacken, GERMANY Wacken Festival

Sat 07 Aug
Vienna, AUSTRIA Arena

Mon 09 AugZurich
SWITZERLAND Volkshaus

Tue 10 Aug
KlagenfurtAUSTRIA Volkshaus

Wed 11 Aug
Budapest, HUNGARY Sziget Festival

Fri 13 Aug
Jaromer, CZECH REPUBLIC Brutal Assualt Festival

Sat 14 Aug
Szczytno, POLAND Open Mind Festival

Sun 15 Aug
St. Petersburg, RUSSIA Glavclub

Tue 17 Aug
Moscow, RUSSIA 1 Rock

Thu 19 Aug
Dinkelsbuehl, GERMANY Summer Breeze

Fri 20 Aug
Leirop, NETHERLANDS Nirwana's Tuinfest

Sat 21 Aug
Hasselt, BELGIUM Pukkelpop Festival

Sun 22 Aug
Cologne, GERMANY Essigfabrik

Ill Nino Set Title To New Album

2010-07-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

Ill Nino have set “Dead New World” as the tile to their new album which they now expect to release this fall. Band drummer Dave Chavarri offered the following on the outing:

“Hello Ill Maniacs,

We wanted to inform you, on our progress recording the new CD!! ILL NIÑO has been working around the clock writing and jamming everyday, and the new songs are coming out fuckin nuts!! After much thought, we have decided to title our new CD “Dead New World“. Our new CD is everything you expect from ILL NIÑO’s original Latin Metal sounds; it’s heavy as fuck, full of Cristian growling vocals, melodic choruses, Tribal Latin rhythms, sick guitars, as well as also being the most progressive record we’ve ever recorded!!!

We have never put out the same CD twice, and our Victory Records release “Dead New World” will prove that once again. We will be touring throughout 2010 and 2011, so joins us in our “Dead New World”

-Dave Chavarri“

New song "Scarred (My Prison)"

2010-06-07T04:38:00.001-07:00

Ill Nino has uploaded new material from their upcoming album on their MySpace page. Download the mp3 for "Scarred (My Prison)" here. The band posted the following message and lyrics:

Hey maniacs!

We know it's been a while but, we have some great news for you all. At the moment, we are well into the production of our new record. It feels awesome to be back in the studio making new music. Looking back to our first record "Revolution", it feels like it was just yesterday. Except it's 2010 & you've stuck with us for almost 10 years! Thank you for being patient. We love you all! This record is going to be worth the wait!

The new track is called "Scarred (My Prison)".

Enjoy,
ILL NINO

SCARRED (MY PRISON)
I give you my life, it's my only device
You take the knife to cut a hole
You carve my heart to make believe
You can see through my soul and my eyes
You use the vise to hold my heart
You'll pay the price l bring you

I wear the scars

I will not walk away
I will never give in
I'll wear the sin
But not within
I will bury the scars
I will rise once again
I'll break away
I won't give in

I wear scars

I give you my heart like it's never enough
You kill the pain to start again
You cut my veins to make me bleed
To believe you and I are the same
I've payed the price to shut my eyes
Across my heart, how could you

I wear the scars

I will not walk away
I will never give in
I'll wear the sin
But not within
I will bury the scars
I will rise once again
I'll break away
I won't give in

I wear scars for you

I give my life like it's never enough
I wear the scars but it's never enough
I bleed for you but it's never enough
It's never enough, it's never enough for you
The scars are never enough for you
The scars are never enough for you
The scars, the scars, the scars

Compulsion Of Virus And Fever (Live in Ekaterinburg, Russia)

2010-04-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Live video of Ill Niño performing "Compulsion of Virus And Fever" in Ekaterinburg, Russia, at the Tele Club on the 24th of March 2009, on the last leg of the Enigma World Tour. Original live audio recording.

Uploaded by loconino666

Ill Nino European tour dates

2010-04-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

The following shows and festivals have been confirmed, in support of the new album which is set to be released on July 20, 2010 through Victory Records.

07/30 Rock Area Festival - Loreley, Germany
07/31 Trebur Open Air - Trebur, Germany
08/01 Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany (headliner)
08/02 Melkweg - Amsterdam, Holland
(with Papa Roach, Life of Agony - Ill Nino supports)
08/04 013 - Tilburg, Holland
(with Papa Roach, Life of Agony - Ill Nino supports)
08/06 Wacken Open Air Festival - Wacken, Germany
08/07 Arena - Vienna, Austria
(with Life of Agony - Ill Nino supports)
08/09 Volkshaus - Zurich, Switzerland
(with Papa Roach, Life of Agony - Ill Nino supports)
08/11 Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary
08/13 Brutal Assault Festival - Jaromer, Czech Republic
08/14 Open Mind Festival - Szczynto, Poland (headliner)
08/15 Glavclub - St. Petersburg, Russia (headliner)
08/16 1 Rock - Moscow, Russia (headliner)
08/19 Summer Breeze Festival - Dinkelsbuehl, Germany
08/20 Nirwana Tuinfeest Festival - Lierop, Holland
08/21 Pukkelpop - Hasselt-Kiewit, Belgium

ILL NINO, Ex-PRO-PAIN Members Join Forces In CRY FOR LIBERTY

2010-04-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

CRY FOR LIBERTY is the new voice of angst and the dark sound of beauty. With lyrics covering topics of damaged relationships, political manipulation, and social injustice, they deliver memorable choruses with a knockout punch.

CRY FOR LIBERTY's personnel is made up of current and former members of ILL NINO, SOULFLY, PRO-PAIN, M.O.D., MEDIA LAB and AIZEN. The band was born after some old friends decided to take a couple of fun jams and tons of heavy riffs and turn it into a new infectious project.

"CRY FOR LIBERTY's sound is melodic, dominating and moving, all at the same time," says drummer and founder Dave Chavarri. The band's message is about giving a voice to the voiceless, and not conforming to the pressures of the masses.

The voice and frontman of the band Sean Nelson, has a growl that delivers raw emotion and a powerful message while maintaining a very unique voice. At the heart of the wall of distortion comes veteran rhythm guitarist Rob Moschetti and lead guitarist Diego Verduzco. While both guitarists come from very different musical backgrounds, they complement each other's playing like a well oiled machine.

CRY FOR LIBERTY's sound offers a different take on hard rock. They are not afraid to touch upon various strains of metal and rock within their diverse, energetic music.

The band will begin recording its debut release in June 2010.

CRY FOR LIBERTY is:
Sean Nelson - Lead Vocals
Dave Chavarri (Ill Nino) - Drums
Diego Verduzco (Ill Nino) - Guitar
Rob Moschetti - Guitar

Source: blabbermouth

Papa Roach / Life of Agony / Ill Nino club shows confirmed for Amsterdam and Tilburg, Holland

2010-03-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

According to the official Melkweg and 013 websites, Ill Nino will be playing with Papa Roach and Life Of Agony in Melkweg, Amsterdam (August 2nd) and in 013, Tilburg (August 4th) as part of their European tour in support of the new album which is scheduled for a late summer release.

ILL NINO Signs Recording, Merchandising And Publishing Deal With VICTORY RECORDS

2010-03-17T16:43:00.001-07:00

New Jersey/New York band ILL NINO has inked a deal with Victory Records. The band will enter the studio in April to begin its new album for a late summer release.

Commented singer Cristian Machado: "I'm honored to be a part of the Victory Records family. They are a great label with a historic roster and we couldn't be happier. Having them on our side is amazing."

ILL NINO last year split with Cement Shoes Records, which released 2008's "Enigma". According to drummer Dave Chavarri, the CD sold 80,000 copies worldwide "with no backup in America."

ILL NINO is scheduled to spend the next couple of months in pre-production in New Jersey. "We will be there until the end of April," Chavarri told Noisecreep. "We will jam, add some tunes. We're starting with 20 songs and will write 20 more and then take the best 15 so we have variety."

ILL NINO parted ways with Roadrunner Records in 2006 — less than a year after the release of ILL NINO's third album, "One Nation Underground".

Source: blabbermouth

Pre-production new album starts in three weeks

2010-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

Dave has posted a message on his MySpace page:

AFTER THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER TIANA HERE IN AUSTRALIA, I'M HEADING BACK TO THE U.S. IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS, TO START WRITING AND PRE PRODUCTION ON THE NEW "ILL NINO" CD STARTING SOMETIME IN EARLY MARCH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECORDING THE DEBUT CD FOR A NEW BAND CALLED "CRY FOR LIBERTY" 2010 WILL BE BUSY AND CHAOTIC!! DAVE CHAVARRI

Ill Niño confirms Wacken Open Air Festival

2009-12-16T04:54:00.001-08:00

Ill Nino has added the Wacken Open Air Festival on August 5th, 2010 to their list of confirmed European Festivals for Summer of 2010. Festivals dates are being added every week, in support of their 5th studio CD to be released in 2010!!

- AUGUST 5, 2010 - WACKEN OPEN AIR FESTIVAL
WACKEN, GERMANY

[UPD] Three European Summer Festival confirmations

2009-11-29T05:17:00.001-08:00

Ill Niño has been confirmed to be playing the Dutch 'Nirwana Tuinfeest' festival, which is being held August 20th-22nd in 2010. Other confirmed acts are Sepultura, GWAR, Destine and Dee Dee York.

Source: festivalinfo.nl

UPDATE
Ill Nino has confirmed two more European festivals for Summer of 2010. There will be many more Festivals confirmations in the following weeks, in support of their 5th studio CD to be released in 2010!!

AUGUST 13, 2010 - BRUTAL ASSAULT FESTIVAL
JAROMER, CZECH REPUBLIC

AUGUST 19, 2010 - SUMMER BREEZE FESTIVAL
DINKELSBUEHL, GERMANY

Ill Niño cancels Sundown Festival (Germany)

2009-10-10T03:37:00.000-07:00

Ill Niño will no longer be playing the Sundown Festival in Germany, which is being held from October 23-24 in the Körhalle in Gaildorf, Germany. According to the Sundown Festival website, Ill Niño has cancelled their entire tour in Eastern Europe as well as their German shows.

Death metal band Neaera will be replacing Ill Niño.

All official videos available in HD quality

2009-09-06T11:36:00.001-07:00

All Ill Niño videos are now available on YouTube in HD quality. Click here to view. Many thanks to "illnino" from the Ill Niño World Tagboard who uploaded the videos.

H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Video Codec
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) Codec
Audio: 128kbps
Aspect ratio: 16:9

New "Road Block" entry posted online

2009-09-03T02:20:00.000-07:00

A new entry of Ahrue's monthly "Road Block" column at Colorado Music Buzz Magazine was posted online earlier today. Click here to read "Niño's Bluff (Part 1)".

Follow Ahrue on Twitter!

Colorado Music Buzz interviews Ahrue Luster

2009-09-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

A new video interview with guitarist Ahrue Luster was posted online earlier this week at YouTube by Colorado Music Buzz magazine. Ahrue talks about his production company Illustrious Production, the music industry in general, Ill Niño's label search and the band's new album which, according to Ahrue, will be the "heaviest Ill Niño album there ever was". Watch the interview below.

Ahrue writes a column, entitled "Road Block", for Colorado Music Buzz on a monthly basis. Click here to read last month's blog "Corcovado".

Why Enigma was pulled from digital music outlets

2009-09-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

According to this entry on Wikipedia, Cement Shoes Records did not pay the Engineers and Editors of Ill Niño's fourth album 'Enigma' for their work. Subsequently, 'Enigma' was permanently pulled from the iTunes music store and other digital music outlets.

Ill Niño parted ways with Cement Shoes Records earlier this year and is currently looking at a couple of labels. Other artists who were initially signed to the label include Godhead, The Dreaming, and Ra. Godhead parted ways with CSR in late 2007 and signed with Driven Music Group in June 2009. The band will be releasing their new album 'At the Edge of the World' on October 7. The Dreaming left CSR and went on to release their first full length album, “Etched In Blood” on their self-created label “Dream Corpse Records”. Ra released their album 'Black Sun' on their own imprint label with Universal named Sahaja Music Recordings, after leaving CSR in early 2008.

Corazon Of Mine (Viña Rock Festival 2007)

2009-08-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Video of Ill Niño playing 'Corazon Of Mine' live at the Viña Rock Festival 2007 in Benicassim, Spain.

And below are for some amazing photos from Ill Niño's performance in Eindhoven, Holland earlier this year (February 25th).

Photos taken by Alex of blastbeat.nl

If You Still Hate Me (live in Russia, 2009)

2009-08-29T03:07:00.000-07:00

The band posted the following message on their MySpace, regarding this video:

"HEY MANIACS! We have a little video treat for you all. The song is called "If You Still Hate Me". The footage was shot for, and aired on, MTV Russia during the second leg of the "Enigma" world tour. Our European tour had just finished the night before. Our show was to be in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Our flights were overnight with a layover in Moscow. Our schedule was tight to begin with and flight delays nearly cancelled the first Russian show. Nevertheless, we got there with just enough time to set up our gear and play. We really have to thank our road crew for pulling this one off - and also all of the crazy Russian fans for making this such a great experience. The audio is 100% raw and unmixed but, powerful indeed. Hope you dig it. Comment to let us know what you think!"

Diego's tattoo shop promo video

2009-08-24T13:42:00.001-07:00

Old school 'God Is I' video

2009-08-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

This has always been one of my favorite Ill Niño videos ever. I remember having this bootleg video back in the day. It's from 2001. They play the song 'God Is I' from the very first Ill Niño EP.

LA photos & Video Nation fan video

2009-07-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles-based photographer Kaley Nelson took some amazing Ill Niño photos at last year's 'Unit & Conquer' tour with Otep. The following shots are from the show in The Key Club:

In other news, in October 2008 'loconino' made an Ill Niño video based on BBC 2's Video Nation series. "I Chose to make mine about Ill Niño because they are my favorite band and my true love, i know i have missed loads of stuff out and its very amateur but my camera presenting skills are shit! lol, anyways like i said i know its very crappy but i hope you like and gives you and insight to why i like them and a bit about there history." Watch the video below.

Download: rare 'Confession' instrumentals

2009-07-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here's something interesting to download: five instrumental Ill Niño tracks from the 'Confession' album (2003). These instrumentals appeared on the 2004 'MTX Mototrax' videogame. The following songs are included:

-Cleansing
-Re-Birth
-Te Amo...I Hate You
-Two (Vaya Con Dios)
-When It Cuts

DOWNLOAD HERE

Please note that the 'Two (Vaya Con Dios)' track is incomplete in this download. Download the full version here.

Brasilian and German street teams

2009-07-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Make sure to check out the Brasilian and German Ill Niño street team at MySpace. Although I dislike MySpace - it's flooded with spam and it looks like crap - it's cool to see how actively these guys promote Ill Niño.

The band has just finished touring South America in June. For a photographic impression, click here and here.

Ill Niño confirmed to headline Sundown Festival (Germany)

2009-07-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

According to the Sundown Festival website, Ill Niño is confirmed to headline the festival, which is being held from October 23-24 in the Körhalle in Gaildorf, Germany.

Welcome at the renewed Ill Niño World

2009-07-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, Ill Niño World was changed into a blog. I have decided this was the right direction for this site. Please update your bookmarks to illninoworld.blogspot.com, the illninoworld.com account is probably going to be inactive. I will keep posting Ill Niño news and updates here; I'm glad the tagboard still works.

In other news, Ill Niño is once again seeking a new label home following the band's split with Cement Shoes Records, which released 2008's "Enigma". In a recent interview with Parce Musik, vocalist Cristian Machado stated, "We are changing labels yet once again . . . There is a couple of labels that we are looking at but we hopefully make a decision on the right one. Not like the decision we made on this last one. So if we learned anything from our decision-making process in the last couple of years... We'll see quickly enough. I don't wanna speak too soon or anything."

Also, Diego has opened his own tattoo shop in California. Artifact Tattoo in Santa Clarita, California! Swing by, say whats up to Diego and get yourself some ink!

Artifact Tattoo
20655 Soledad Canyon rd
Canyon Country, CA 91351

Ill Niño thanks Brazilian fans

2009-07-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

The following message was posted on Ill Nino's MySpace:

ILL NIÑO WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE "ILL" BRAZILIAN FANS FOR ALWAYS SHOWING US THEIR NEVER ENDING SUPPORT, THE KICK ASS BRAZILIAN STREET TEAM, OUR BROS IN SKIN CULTURE, AND CASA DA MUSICA FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WARM WELCOME TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF BRAZIL!!!!

WE HAD AN AMAZING AND UNFORGETTABLE TIME DURING THE 6 ILL NIÑO BRAZILIAN SHOWS AS PART OF THE "PROJECT INDEPENDENT TOUR 2009"!!

ILL NIÑO LOVES BRAZIL!!!

The Undercover Sessions (2006)

2006-11-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

Lyrics • Album Story • Song Meanings

Released: 11.07.06
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Cement Shoes
Produced by: Johns
Produced by: Chavarri
© Universal Music Group

Tracklist:
01 Arrastra
02 Zombie Eaters (Faith No More cover, with Chino Moreno)
03 Reservation For Two
04 Red Rain (Peter Gabriel cover)
05 Territorial Pissings (Nirvana cover)

Lyrics: The Undercover Sessions (2006)

2006-11-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

01. ARRASTRA
undercover sessions ep
---------------------------------------

Converging my image to suit this disease
This face is just a mask to deceive you
(And I) Preserve my appearance for no one to see
And no one will ever believe you

Yo so el rey of this fucked up world

I sold myself for my reputation
Lost my balance and now I'm losing control
Can't stand when nothing feels right
Lost my balance and now I'm losing control

Conserving my preaching to consume your beliefs
Mi cara tán falsa que arrastra
(I'm still) Persuading this world to devise what I need
Ninguna palabra me falta

Yo so el rey of this fucked up world

I sold myself for my reputation
Lost my balance and now I'm losing control
Can't stand when nothing feels right
Lost my balance and now

Losing control

Máscara
Máscara
Máscara
Máscara
Máscara

02. ZOMBIE EATERS (FAITH NO MORE COVER, WITH CHINO MORENO)
undercover sessions ep
---------------------------------------

You're everything
That's why I cling to you
When I emerge
My thoughts converge to you
To you

The world is so small
Compared to you
And everybody's wrong
Compared to you
To you

I begin to see through your eyes
All the former mysteries are no surprise
So now, you listen
Cuz I'm omniscient

Hey look at me lady
I'm just a little baby
You're lucky to have me
I'm cute and sweet as candy

As charming as a fable
I'm innocent and disabled
So hug me and kiss me
Then wipe my butt and piss me

I hope you never leave
Cuz who would hear me scream?
Nobody understands
Except the toys in my hands

So now you listen
Cuz I'm omniscient

Hey look at me lady
I'm just a little baby
If I smile, then you smile
Then I'll get mad for awhile

I melt in your mouth
And in your hands whenever I can
But I really do nothing
Except kickin' and fussin'

I like to make a mess
I laugh at your distress
I sit all day in my crib
Absorbing all you give

I'm helpless
I'm flawless
I'm a machine

Give me
I need my toys

Keep me hot
Keep me strong
Keep me everlong

So now you listen
Cuz I'm omniscient

03. RESERVATION FOR TWO
undercover sessions ep
---------------------------------------

And I like when you reject me
There's no time for running on empty
You like the way this violence makes us one

And I don't ever promise you everything
No, I don't ever promise you anything
That keeps you right here now we've come undone
Now we've got nothing

We can't believe
In all that is ours
If I would have nothing still would you want me

Can we pretend
That we've had enough
If I would have nothing still would you want me
To be as one
To be as one
To be as one

And I don't ever promise you anything
No, I don't ever promise your diamond ring
I keep you right here and now we've come undone
And we've got nothing

We can't believe
In all that is ours
If I would have nothing still would you want me

Can we pretend
That we've had enough
If I would have nothing still would you want me
To be as one
To be as one

We can't believe
In all that is ours
If I would have nothing still would you want me

Can we pretend
That we've had enough
If I would have nothing still would you want me

Can we believe
Will you believe me

Can we pretend
Would you still want me
To be as one

04. RED RAIN (PETER GABRIEL COVER)
undercover sessions ep
---------------------------------------

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream
I cannot make a single sound as you scream
It can't be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch
This place is so quiet sensing that storm

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

Well I've seen them buried,
In a sheltered place in this town
They tell you that this rain can sting and look down
La sangre ne está and I see no sign of pain
Hey, no pain
Seeing no rojo, I see no rain

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

Putting the pressure on much harder now
Restar again and again
Just let the red rain splash you
Let the rain fall on your skin
I've come to you defences down
With the trust of a child

Red rain is coming down
Red rain is coming down
Red rain is pouring down all over me
I'm begging you

Red rain is coming down
Red rain is coming down
Red rain is coming down all over me
I'm begging you

Red rain, coming down
Red rain, coming down
Red rain is coming down all over me
I'm begging you

05. TERRITORIAL PISSINGS (NIRVANA COVER)
undercover sessions ep
---------------------------------------

When I was an alien,
Cultures weren't opinions

Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way

Never met a wise man
If I did, it was a woman

Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way

Just because you're paranoid
Don’t mean they're not after you

Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way
Gotta find a way, a better way, a better way

Album Story: The Undercover Sessions (2006)

2006-11-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

Signing to Cement Shoes Records: After five years of being signed to Roadrunner Records, Ill Niño and the label parted ways. The band signed a contract with Cement Shoes Records, which is a "brand new beginning for us", according to the band. Cement Shoes Records, formed in 2006 by industry veterans Daniel E. Catullo III (president/founder of music DVD company Coming Home Studios), Peter Koepke (former president/partner of legendary London Records), and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, seeks to re-establish true artist relationships and development neglected in recent years by major labels. An independent label distributed by Fontana/Universal, Cement Shoes Records believes the artist comes first and needs to be properly developed through relentless touring and focused marketing efforts to "the street," where the true music fans are.

The band's thoughts: According to vocalist Cristian Machado, Ill Niño signed to Cement Shoes because "they really believe in this band's ability to revitalize the Metal World and we believe Cement Shoes has the vision and creative understanding that is necessary for a band like ours. We are a band who is culturally diversifying Metal and need a label that understands that goal, not a label that just wants to bunch us up in the Metal genre. We work so hard at bringing unique cultural energy to Metal that the last thing we want is to be considered as one among the many. I am not saying that traditional Metal is uncool. I love traditional Metal but we are so hard to define musically and we've developed this concept so precisely that it has become obvious: ILL NINO really is the first Latin Metal band. Everyone at Cement Shoes understands it and is devoted it. We have had a great working relationship and friendship with Daniel E. Catullo since the making of our DVD and have nothing but respect and admiration for all of the accomplishments he has made. Everyone at Fontana/Universal is stoked about finally getting the chance to work directly with ILL NINO. That is very rare in the Music Industry. When Dan approached us about signing and with all these factors in place, how could we not go on the green?" According to bassist Laz Pina, Ill Niño is very happy with their new home: "They're giving us room to grow and room to breathe, and they're very supportive of taking us to the next level."

Writing the album: Instead of doing an all-acoustic album, which Ill Niño had wanted to do for almost a year, the band decided to release an EP and concentrate on their highly anticipated fourth full-length album, due for a Spring 2007 delivery. Cristian Machado explains: "It is something that ILL NINO has been wanting to do for a while now. But, considering the situation, I think we need to come out with our "Master of Puppets" - a record that defines all of our work up to date." And that's exactly what Machado thinks the EP and full-length are doing. In July 2006, the band started writing new songs for an EP, in Los Angeles CA, as "a taste of what's to come in Spring 2007". This was all overseen by legendary producer Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne) and Dave Chavarri. The "Undercover Sessions" EP contains two fresh new Ill Niño songs, "Arrastra" and "Reservation For Two", and three covers; Faith No More ("Zombie Eaters"), Nirvana ("Territorial Pissings") and Peter Gabriel ("Red Rain"), in which Ill Niño implements their trademark combination of Spanish lyrics, flamenco guitars, tribal drums and percussion, Salsa-infused bass lines, and thunderous metal riffs.

Covering Songs: Ill Niño recorded three songs of their favorite songs from acts they loved growing up as fans. “We wanted to bring an awareness of the importance of these artists to today's generation,” says drummer Dave Chavarri. “We feel we’ve captured the artistry and originality of these songs by adding the ILL NIÑO Latin flavor. We hope people enjoy listening to these tracks as much as we enjoyed recording them.” The band has wanted to record these cover songs for quite some time but never found the proper vehicle. By finally releasing them on this limited edition EP, the band is able to simultaneously pay homage to these artists while telling the world they have a welcome new home at Cement Shoes Records.

Zombie Eaters (Faith No More): From the album "The Real Thing" (1989), the first Faith No More release to feature Mike Patton on vocals. "With "Zombie Eaters" we purely wanted to remind the music world how much Faith No More influenced what is our current Metal scene," Machado explains. "Yes, we pulled some tricks - pimped it out, if you will. We put some Latin spices on it. We added tribal essence. We used traditional flamenco guitars rather than the everyday acoustic. And I really do believe that, for a song which was written by one of the greatest bands of all time, we did it justice. We did a tour with the almighty God Forbid. And, in one of the many interesting convos about music & the Metal scene, I remember Doc saying that no band would ever do a Faith No More cover because it just wouldn't be done right. And then we went on talking about how "Zombie Eaters" is prolly the best FNM song ever written. It was such a cool conversation. At the end of the day, I think Doc will be proud when he hears it. That one's for you Doc." This song also features an appearance from Chino Moreno, frontman for Sacramento's Deftones. "The song is sung as a duet with Cristian," bassist Laz Pina said. "Chino is one of the last great artists of our modern time and to have something on tape with him is incredible."

Territorial Pissings (Nirvana): From the album "Nevermind" (1991), which catapulted Nirvana from relative obscurity to the heights of commercial and critical success virtually overnight. "We kept pretty true to the original except for a smooth Latin Jazz bridge we added on to it," Machado notes. "Ahrue played a killer solo on it and I think any Nirvana fan is going to praise it. It is raw, full of energy, and so fucking punk-rock."

Red Rain (Peter Gabriel): From the album "So" (1986), generally regarded as a peak in Peter Gabriel's recording career. "Red Rain" is a song that we had demoed in the past," Machado explains. "This time around we recorded it properly. It is one of the best Peter Gabriel songs ever written. People who have heard it say it is better than the original."

Different line-up: This EP was the first EP with Diego Verduzco on guitar (originally in Odum), as a stand-in for Jardel Paisante, who hadn't been a part of Ill Niño since the Spring of 2006, and was said to be dealing with personal family problems. According to guitarist Ahrue Luster, Verduzco is a great guitar player: "He's a very dedicated musician and a huge fan of Ill Nino." Verduzco was also on the photoshoots of Ill Niño for the EP, so many fans started looking at him as a full-time replacement for Jardel Paisante.

Releasing the album: Because of the number of released EPs being limited to only 20.000 copies, Ill Niño fans were encouraged to pre-order their copy as soon as possible to be sure to get an original copy. In the first month, more than 10.000 copies were already sold.

• Passages of Album Reviews
"Ill Nino does remarkably strong versions of "Zombie eaters" and "Red rain", it's a joy to hear the latino rhythms mixed with mega heavy guitars on these 2 songs. The best song of the EP is the 2nd new track from the band - "Reservation for two" gives the listener a ride of suggestive and mighty numetal with a powerful chorus that I can't get out of my head. The Nirvana cover ends the EP and this one sounds almost exactly like the original version, "Territorial pissings" is the weakest song of the EP but it ain't bad. Ill Nino's upcoming album will drop in spring 2007, I believe that will be something extra!"
- Kaj Roth (Melodic Net)

"Ill Nino is back and in sharp form, as seen on 'The Under Cover Sessions'. It is easy to tell the band spent time on the recording, as the attention to detail and precision of harmonic tones is exquisitely noticeable with every turn. The band shy away from covering recycled material and give a refreshing view on cover songs. Ill Nino have a bright future ahead of them, and if they decide to relax us with their sultry Latin vibe or destroy us with their pummeling blend of roaring guitars and searing drum work, there is no doubt fans will be rewarded nonetheless."
- Nick (TuneLab Music)

"Overall, a solid and collectible piece for Ill Nino fans. Only 20,000 copies are being printed and once that is it, there will be no more."
- Wise Men Promotions

"Ill Niño has surfaced after cutting ties with Roadrunner Records, they have returned with a new label Cement Shoes Records and new a new E.P. entitled The Under Cover Sessions. This release is comprised of two original studio tracks; “Arrastra” and “Reservation for Two,” which are a continuation of where they left off on their last studio record. The rest of the E.P. consists of three covers, and an unusual pick in Peter Gabriel’s “Red Rain,” which is given the Ill Niño trademark touch and becomes part of the band’s catalog and there’s also “Territorial Pissings” this is probably the best song Nirvana ever wrote and this is the first time I have heard a truly aggressive vocal by Cristian Machado on their recordings. I love the timbales going mach III on this track, Couto and Chavarri play off one another; rounding out this set is Faith No More’s “Zombie Eaters” this finds Ill Niño staying true to the original. The Under Cover Sessions is a great disc that will tide over the fans and keep the band’s name out there while we await a new album."
- Ruben Mosqueda (Pivotal Rage)

"Rock 'n' roll has long been the only true melting pot in American culture, with its persistent birthing of genuine subgenres followed by assimilation and repackaging. The results amount to a mad-scientist style of cultural chemistry: mix bits of this with that and prepare for the explosion. And so it is with the Latin metal of New Jersey's Ill Nino on this five-song EP, featuring two originals and three well-chosen covers. On "Arrastra," the band utilizes metal cliche to surprising effect: chunky guitar sheen, wounded-monster vocals, and hammer-of-the-gods drumming. But it's colored by an organic bongo rhythm and passages of subdued flamenco guitar. Elsewhere, from the tribal beats of Peter Gabriel-style world music on "Red Rain" to the percussive metal fury of Faith No More's "Zombie Eaters" (featuring the Deftones' Chino Moreno) and the tuneful chaos of Nirvana's "Territorial Pissings," it's a study in repurposed originality."
- Luke O'Neil (Boston.com)

"Prior to the release of their next LP, Ill Nino (or their label) attempts to cash in with a brief 5 song e.p. It contains 2 original studio tracks that suck and 3 covers. The Peter Gabriel cover and the Nirvana cover are good everything else is pretty lame. They have a Sepulturaesque tribal drum thing going and that is cool. Here is the deal though, growling vocals suck a goat. Get over your self and learn to sing. It you can't do that, at least learn to annunciate. Get it? Got it? Good! They sent me a sticker though and I appreciate that. Yet still Two thumbs up, 8 thumbs down."
- !upstarter Punk Reviews

"I really like what I’m hearing, even if it’s just a singles CD. These guys have been around for a couple of years and have been refining their sound accordingly. I fully expect their upcoming full album release to be mega big. The Under Cover Sessions serves as an appetizer that is likely to make people hungry for the main course."
- Baron (Shakefire)

Song Meanings: The Undercover Sessions (2006)

2006-11-07T02:50:00.000-08:00

01. Arrastra
Cristian: The leading inspiration for the lyrics to "Arrastra" stems from a story about the human obsession with identity deception. When your personal appearance is the driving force behind your success and your happiness, realistically, you are only chipping away at your real personality - basically just letting your looks pave the way for your decisions - making believe that you are someone who you are really not just to gain some type of elitist respect.

"In music today, and even in everyday life, appearance has become way too fucking cliche. I have always been one to speak out against stereotyping people of any kind. Especially when it is used to draw the lines between genres of music. Having cool threads is very gratifying, stereotyping fashion and dialect in music is ridiculous. It seems that in order to be "cool" in one particular scene, you have to loose your true self and adopt styles, fashions, even beliefs, that are typical to that click or scene.

I think it's bullshit. I feel a lot of people today are really loosing that spec of true identity by getting so caught up in the act of it all. I don't even know if anyone cares about individuality anymore. And since individuality is the essence of freedom, comformity must be the essence of enslavement."

The Best Of (2006)

2006-09-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Album Story

Released: 09.12.06
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 What Comes Around (Revolution Revolución)
02 Unreal (Revolution Revolución)
03 God Save Us (Revolution Revolución)
04 If You Still Hate Me (Revolution Revolución)
05 Liar (Revolution Revolución)
06 This Time's For Real (Confession)
07 How Can I Live (Confession)
08 Cleansing (Confession)
09 Te Amo...I Hate You (Confession)
10 What You Deserve (One Nation Underground)
11 This Is War (One Nation Underground)
12 Turns To Gray (One Nation Underground)
13 Corazon Of Mine (One Nation Underground)

Album Story: The Best Of (2006)

2006-09-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Best of Ill Niño: "Roadrunner is pulling together the finest tracks from some of our greatest artists to bring you 4 stunning 'Best Of's' this September." These four artists are Sepultura, Type O Negative, Fear Factory and Ill Niño. This album was Ill Niño's final album on Roadrunner Records, after requesting to be released from their contract. The album features 13 tracks from their three releases under the label: 5 songs of 2001's Revolution Revolución, 4 of 2003's Confession and 4 of 2005's One Nation Underground. It was not released in Europe.

Parting ways with Roadrunner: On June 15, 2006, it was announced that Ill Niño had parted ways with Roadrunner Records. The band stated on their official website: "3 months after the release of O.N.U., we felt we weren't getting the proper attention and support from Roadrunner that we had gotten on the past 2 releases. Since Ill Niño was no longer a priority at Roadrunner, Ill Niño's management negotiated with Roadrunner so they could be released from the recording contract, and Ill Niño was released." Nine days later they had inked a new deal with "Cement Shoes Records". the brainchild of Dan Catullo who is the founder of Coming Home Studios (Godsmack, Rush, Marylin Manson, Matchbox 20, Usher).

The band's reaction: According to Cristian Machado it was Roadrunner's decision to release a Best Of collection; "Sure ILL NINO has had some hits, and yes, all of the songs on that release are awesome, but that compilation of already released songs is a slick label attempt at raking in some extra cash in exchange for the unconditional release of the band. I am very thankful for Roadrunner's involvement with ILL NINO and by no means do I want to dwell on the past. But, the truth is ILL NINO has so much more to offer than a "Best of..." after only 3 full lengths. This is why we are so motivated to capture the ears of the world with our next full length."

Criticism: The album was very much criticized by Ill Niño fans on the Internet, calling Roadrunner "money hungry bastards", calling it not necessary to release a Best Of album after just three albums and criticizing the lack of bonus content (no rare tracks, cover songs or a bonus dvd). On the other hand, fans stated that this is a good album for new fans to start with.

• Passages of Album Reviews
"With only three albums under their belt (the group formed in 2001), Latin alternative metal collective Ill Niño don't really need a "greatest-hits" collection, but the masterfully titled 13-track Best of Ill Niño dutifully compiles some of the New Jersey-based rockers' better tracks on a single disc. Highlights from their debut ("If You Still Hate Me"), 2003's... More Confession ("How Can I Live"), and 2005's One Nation Underground ("This Is War") represent the group in all of its space/rap/emo/thrash metal glory, but the exclusion of fan favorites like "All the Right Words," "De la Vida," and "My Pleasant Torture" keep this collection from sounding like anything but a contractual commitment to Roadrunner.
- James Christopher Monger (All Music Guide)

"Ill Nino have a Best Of... collection coming out. Once again, we have Roadrunner Records to thank for this. The band has 3 major label releases, and none of them are anywhere near as good as their self-titled independent release. The band won over myself and several others I know with their excellent cover of Pantera's "Five Minutes Alone". That isn't even on the release; it's literally some completely random selections from the band's Roadrunner years. Whoever honestly thought the world needs The Best of Ill Nino should seriously seek counseling for their deep-seeded hatred of the human race."
- Lord Faust (Hermitage Media)

One Nation Underground (2005)

2005-09-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Lyrics • Album Story • Song Meanings

Released: 09.27.05
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Wohl
Produced by: Chavarri
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 This Is War
02 My Resurrection
03 What You Deserve
04 Turns To Gray
05 De La Vida
06 Liberacion Of Our Awakening
07 All I Ask For
08 Corazon Of Mine
09 Everything Beautiful
10 In This Moment
11 My Pleasant Torture
12 Barely Breathing
13 Violent Saint

Japanese version
Released: 09.21.05
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Wohl
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 This Is War
02 My Resurrection
03 What You Deserve
04 Turns To Gray
05 De La Vida
06 Liberacion Of Our Awakening
07 All I Ask For
08 Corazon Of Mine
09 Everything Beautiful
10 In This Moment
11 My Pleasant Torture
12 Barely Breathing
13 Violent Saint
14 Frustrated

Lyrics: One Nation Underground (2005)

2005-09-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

01. THIS IS WAR
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

He was enslaved, to the dirty system, pero murio motherfucking come on
This was the final mission
But life had just begun
It all had to be so fucked up
His death to me, so fucked up
His face remains so deathless

This is war
And I swear that I'm not giving up or giving in
This is war
And I swear that I'm not giving up or giving in
Or Giving up, this life is war
This is war, this is war, this is...

Society is a loaded weapon
No one is exempt from the bullet within
El systema is a prime example
De lo que pasa cuando
The streets could be so fucked up
His destiny so fucked up
His face remains so deathless

This is war
And I swear that I'm not giving up or giving in
This is war
And I swear that I'm not giving up or giving in
Or Giving up, this life is war
This is war, this is war, this is war

Dios mio, alma mia, por que me as llevado la vida
Cuando yo todo te lo he dado
En mi hora de muerte, no me dejes morir
Necesito otra vida, Necesito que me digas

This is war, this is war, this is war

02. MY RESURRECTION
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

My God, if I ever had to guard my soul
If I ever had a soul to bring forth
A unilateral condition
Resando que siempre Me des resolution

Recompose
Resurrect my termination through birth
Now that I am whole
This immaculate conception reborn again

I will, Strike back, through my, resurrection
Resurrection

Mi dios, yo te pido qu me ables, el sol
M a nublado los canales, to voz
Tansmitiendo tus senales
La sangre de mis manos
Esta callendo en tus calles

Recompose
Resurrect my termination through birth
Now that I am whole
This immaculate conception reborn again

I will, strike back, through my, resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection, resurrection, resurrection

So recompose
Resurrect my termination through birth
Now that I am whole
This immaculate conception reborn again

I will, strike back, through our, resurrection
Resurrection

03. WHAT YOU DESERVE
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

It's too bad that you have made mistakes
Too bad that I cannot relate
When all else fail
When all else fades
I kept my word through bitter days
(through bitter days)

What you don't know
Won't leave a scar
What you don't know
Hasn't killed you so far
What you don't know
Is who you are
I just give you something to talk about
What you don't know

It's too late that now
I've changed my mind
Too late somehow
To recognize
When all else fails
When all I fight
I hold my words
And leave the time
(just lost in time)

What you don't know
Won't leave a scar
What you don't know
Hasn't killed you so far
What you don't know
Is who you are
I just give you something to talk about

So you lost yourself
Turn to someone else
And you gather up your will to want to know
Then you find yourself
And you're someone else
In the end you only get what you deserve
(What you deserve)

04. TURNS TO GRAY (with Jamey Jasta)
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

You will never learn to stop falling down
Unless you learn to stand up without shutting up
You will never learn to start speaking up
Unless you learn to arise without (sacrifice)

And now that I bleed for you (Give me life)
And now that I side with you (I bleed)
And now that I’d die for you
But I don’t know

How much more will it take?
All is turning to gray
How much more will you wait?
When it goes astray
How much more can you take?
All is slipping away
How much more till you break
I know we're not afraid

You will never learn to stop lashing out
Unless you learn get up and start giving up
You will never learn to start pushing out
Unless you learn to take care through this (sacrifice)

And now that I bleed for you (Give me life)
And now that I side with you (I bleed)
And now that I'd die for you
But I don’t know

How much more will take?
All is turning to gray
How much more will you wait?
When it goes astray
How much more can you take?
All is slipping away
How much more till you break
I know we're not afraid

Give me life!
You know that I’ll bleed for you
You know that I’ll die by you
Die by you!
I wipe the blood that stains my face
Give me life
I carve the wound to state my case
Give me life
I separate myself
Give me life
I separate myself
Give me life
Sacrifice
I’ll die by you

05. DE LA VIDA
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

Away but are you even knowing?
Accepting your existence
Do you even breathe?
Still there is no tomorrow
What lies ahead and you come for sorrow

Make me wind this coral reef
Now holding time, a part of me
And I can't spare the air to breathe
Just take it all away

I don't rest
The vultures, up to you, will confess
Self-compress
A dollar life so self-possessed
La agua que te guias, todo un mar de porqueria
You will not emerge from this
But when everything is said and done
Tell me, lo que no paso

De tu vida, breathless and knowing
Nunca sentiste la paz y el amor
De tu vida, that this is your nothing
You can't erase it

I speak expecting some connection
While hosting your deception
Of what will never be
Well the one part that is missing
Is the only thing that keeps you listening

Make me wind this coral reef
Now holding time, a part of me
And I can't spare the air to breathe
Just take it all away

Self-suppressed
So lost for every will to express
Bury it
Now mark it and let give with it
La suerte de tu vida es que ser libre no existe
You will not emerge from this
But when everything is said and done
Tell me, lo que no paso

De tu vida, breatheless and knowing
Nunca sentiste la paz y el amor
De tu vida, that this is your nothing
Look at what I have made of you

Y tu vida, breathless and knowing
Nunca viviste lo que es el dolor
De tu vida, that this is your nothing
Look at what I have made of you

I don't rest
The vultures you will comfort, you will confess
Now end this stress
A dollar life but just for me to posses (posses)
Lo que no paso

Y tu vida, breathless and knowing
Nunca viviste lo que es el dolor
De tu vida, that this is your nothing
Look at what I have made of you

Y tu vida, breathless and knowing
Nunca vivistes lo que es el dolor
De tu vida, that this is your nothing
Look at what I have made of you

06. LA LIBERACION OF OUR AWAKENING
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

For the rest of my life I dedicate my soul
To the liberation of our awakening
Our arising, our unification
With open eyes we stare into our enslavement
por el resto de mi vida, dedico mi alma

I will feel so blest In this skin of mine
(Mine)
Even worse this water had turned to wine
(Wine)
I won't feel that pleasure, my wounds are thick
(thick)
So confused I'm restless, consumed within
(Within)

In this endless maze
I'll suffocate
When every word around me
drives me to the end to shed my face
And change my ways
When everyone around me
Drives me to the end of silence

Tell me what's the motive behind this scene
(Scene)
Suffer I'm now captive, refuse to leave
(Leave)
Now that I've surrendered there's no more threat
(Threat)
Living this injustice without regret
(Regret)

In this endless maze
I'll suffocate
When every word around me
Drives me to the end
To shed my face
And change my ways
When everyone around me
Drives me to the end of silence

I'll wait for the rain
I wait for the rain

The government
Our justice system and corporations
Playing Monopoly with society
Only the elite can
Through this game, we are limitless separation
Divided
We are the evicted
The promises of all companies to find the solutions to all your problems
Only the fellow popular politicians
Imprisoning the weak
We are the evicted
We are the weak
Everyone suffers

I will suffer

07. ALL I ASK FOR
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

Cause all that I ask for
Is turning to ashes
When everything comes down

There’s nothing to die for
There’s nothing to die for

Cause I’m burying my sins
I’m a prisoner in waiting
I’m drowning within
When the world is all I’m hating
This is my hell

We conform from underground
We arise from your defenses
Through this constitution, revolution end

Cause all that I ask for
Is turning to ashes
When all of my passion
Crumbles around me
I’m stripping again to
All that surrounds me
When everything comes down
There’s nothing to die for

If I cannot be saved
Then my pride is for the taking
If this is my grave
I will close my eyes awaking
Everything’s red

We conform from underground
We arise from your defenses
Through this constitution revolution end

Cause all that I ask for
Is turning to ashes
When all of my passion
Crumbles around me
I’m stripping again to
All that surrounds me
When everything comes down
There’s nothing to die for

Pero mi pais, todo por mi pais

08. CORAZON OF MINE
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

Clench my fist tight
Make you act right
Si tu te piensas que tu gannas
Piensa otra ves
Walk on thin ice
Tread these fine lines
Los sentimientos que me quitan todo lo que soy

Stay forever
Walk behind me
When I say
It’s forever
Don't remind me
(Ever)

This encounter
Is far from over
Maravillosa que te pones
Cuando yo no estoy
Enforces major
Malign tension
Preciosa y tan mentirosa

Stay forever
Walk behind me
When I say
Its forever
Don't remind me
(Ever)

Todo por la cara bonita
Todo por la cara bonita
Todo por la cara bonita

09. EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

We are not the same, I am not to blame
Cause you've rearranged the truth
You just suffocate while I medicate
When I wipe the slate I'm done with you

Run for shelter
Dig for wealth but
All the treasures live within you
Nest your maker
Take the stem
Surrender your arms to a tree

And I'm breaking away
From everything beautiful
And all I am
Is fading I'm restless
And lying away
And nothing is obvious
And all I am
Is fading and wasting away

I am not afraid y salvando me
This mistake you made too soon
Y que vas hacer?
Quien te va creer?
Well you make this bed to lie for you

It's time to wake up
Contemplate but
Something's missing non-existing
Corre tiempo, estas sufriendo
Tu eres dueña de todo

And I'm breaking away
From everything beautiful
And all I am
Is fading I'm restless
And lying away
And nothing is obvious
And all I am
Is fading and wasting away

Tus labios have taken
Las palabras deldolor
In your eyes
Que me quitan
Lo que estoy pensando yo

10. IN THIS MOMENT
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

Untie these ropes around my neck
Still I’m dropping to my knees
So conscious smiling discontent
Affecting lo que pienso de ti
Hasta ya

Never mind
Who’s to say?
It’s hard to rest when everybody’s
On your case
On your own
It’s hard to sleep when everything is
All concerned
Who is right?
Its hard to breath when this intention
Feels so wrong
Feels so right
Feels so wrong
Never mind
(Never mind)

Las horas pasan nunca mas
Si yo me vengo Tu te vas
Estas conciente sin querer
And now you hide yourself instead
Hasta ya

Never mind
Who’s to say?
It’s hard to rest when everybody’s
On your case
On your own
It’s hard to sleep when everything is
All concerned
Who is right?
Its hard to breath when this intention
Feels so wrong
Feels so right
Feels so wrong
Never mind

11. MY PLEASANT TORTURE
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

Why?
Is everything starting to crumble?
when all of my wrong was forgiven
I ask you why?
I ask you who?
Gave you the will to recover
When all of our love has been missing
I ask you why?
I ask you who?

Now turn to me and explicame ya
Just speak to me te lo pido yo
If you live for me pues protejeme ya
Now tell me
Did you ever ask the sky?
Not to cry no more
To fly no more
Did you ever ask the stars?
Not to shine no more
To fly no more
Did you ever think that we would still remain together for so long?
Is it what we wanted all along?
Is it what we wanted for so long?

How come we have always held on to each other?
Your here your gone and your leaving
I ask you why?
And I tried but I
Have never had thought that our passion
Would ever be hard to be stricken
Nunca pense
I ask you who?
Now turn to me and explicame ya
Just speak to me te lo pido yo
If you live for me pues protejeme ya
Now tell me
Did you ever ask the sky?
Not to cry no more
To fly no more.
Did you ever ask the stars?
Not to shine no more
To fly no more.
Did you ever think that we would still remain together for so long?
Is it what we wanted all along?
Is this what we wanted for so long?

12. BARELY BREATHING (INSTRUMENTAL)

13. VIOLENT SAINT
one nation underground
---------------------------------------

For now there's no redeeming
Self-conscience all-consuming
All day my rage is burning
These scars I wear I'm bearing

Untie the reasons
That keep me restrained
This is the season
The season of hate
So!

I fear in no-one
Nothing can touch me
For lack of more frustration
Or my reconciliation
I am the only
Thing that destroys me
I hold my own convictions
Yo me rompo!

Why
Am I a victim to myself?
When everything burns
My torture lies within
Am I a victim to myself?
When everything burns
My tortured life...

This presence ruled by anger
My rationale, a stranger
I grip my own conclusions
Built up from my delusions

I have encountered
Begin to tremble
Frustration blooming
It rips right through me!

I fear in no-one
Nothing can touch me
For lack of more frustration
Or my reconciliation
I am the only
Thing that destroys me
I hold my own convictions
Yo me rompo

Why
Am I a victim to myself?
When everything burns
My torture lies within
Am I a victim to myself?
When everything burns
My tortured life...

Boiling point!
Violent saint!
Boiling point!
Violent fucking saint!
Saint!

14. FRUSTRATED
one nation underground (japanese version)
---------------------------------------

I'm sick of law, I'm sick of rules
I'm sick of politics in our schools
And I just feel like breaking something
I'm sick of love
I'm sick of hate
I'm sick of everything in my way
Look at what I've got myself at

So question yourself
So question your God
So question your will
I could fucking kill it

It's getting stray
I can't explain
Too late to question our fucking fate
You want to know
Just fucking think
Cause I can't answer a fucking thing
So ask yourself
So ask your God
Cause I could only care fucking less
This is getting so frustrating
Where is my God when I need him the fucking most?

I'm desolated, isolated
Nothing matters, and I will make it
All my questions lead to nowhere
I'm contemplating, separating
My religion breeds from nothing
Would I really be heard somewhere?

So reap what you sow
Get back what you give
And pay what you won't
Don't you love your country?

It's getting stray
I can't explain
Too late to question our fucking fate
You want to know
Jjust fucking think
Cause I can't answer a fucking thing
So ask yourself
So ask your God
Cause I could only care fucking less
This is getting so frustrating
Where is my God when I need him the fucking most?

Album Story: One Nation Underground (2005)

2005-09-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

Writing the album: At the end of 2004, just after releasing the DVD "Live From The Eye Of The Storm", the band started writing new music for their 3rd full-length album on Roadrunner Records. Cristian Machado, songwriter for Ill Niño, earlier claimed that the album was going to be about controversial subjects, concentrating more on world politics. "We're home now writing new music for our third CD, which is sounding fucking brutal, and will be much heavier than our past two efforts," drummer Dave Chavarri posted on the official site. "We start recording in February 2005, and (the album) is to be released in the summer of 2005!"

Recording the album: In the third week of February 2005 the recording process for the new album started. All band members are claiming the new album is much heavier than both "Revolution Revolución" and "Confession" and still percussive, Latin and melodic. The band's A&R Rep, Mike Gitter, references Slayer and Mars Volta. "Sheer brutality melded with real Latin jams ala Santana at his peak," according to Gitter. "There's no chasing of trends going on here. No aspirations other than simply writing the best songs the band can, which means bruisers and anthems with plenty of bloody spice and bloodier sonic salsa!" Although the drums were recorded at a studio in Upstate, New York, the band recorded the other instruments at Hi-Fi Recordings in Union City, New Jersey, at Laz Pina's brother's recording studio. "It's probably the most "real" approach to making a record the band could have possibly taken," Gitter claims.

One Nation Underground was produced by Scrap 60 (Anthrax, Cradle of Filth, Bleeding Through), who were involved in the making of "Revolution Revolución" too. The album was recorded without any musical constraints or outside interference. "All of the Roadrunner Records staff has been giving us nothin' but love and are doing an amazing job," frontman Cristian Machado said. "We had complete control of our recording atmosphere. We actually got to pick the studio we wanted to record in, the producer we wanted to work with, and we were also allowed to create our own deadline. This gave us plenty of room to create the record we wanted to create. The actual recording process was a very positive and extremely creative experience."

Mixing the album: Because the band wanted to make the album sound more raw, the vocals and instruments are doubled at a minimum. "It’s like one vocal track and a backup track very low in the mix," Machado claims. "Same thing with the instruments. There isn’t like 20 guitar tracks on there, it’s like two rhythm guitar tracks and one augmented guitar track and that’s really what we wanted the record to be. We just wanted it to be more raw and more pure but more focused on the culture, aggression, and the originality of the band rather than how many tracks or you know, how many backing vocals there was or what not. We just wanted it to be more raw and direct, right to the point. This is what it is."

Musical direction: In June the album was as good as finished. "Dave (Chavarri), Eddie (Wohl), Dan (Korneff), and I have literally been working 15 hour days to make sure this record is the most intense and conceptual Niño release to date," Machado claims. "On this record we fucking exploded." The band didn't care about anything other than being "what Ill Niño should be: Brutal, intense, cultured, obscure, and slightly demented." Bassist Laz Pina: “On this album we were able to get across the aggression a little bit better. This is the type of sound we were looking for. We wanted to write a much heavier and raw record that still emphasized out Latin roots. (...) I think that our first two records were on our path to getting things right. If you put both of those records together and add in what was missing, you’ll get what we did on this new record." Machado: "Eddie Wohl produced the record and I wouldn't be able to say that he was anything other than spectacular at producing "One Nation Underground". He trully made us feel very comfortable yet pushed us to the limits of our creative universe. "One Nation Underground" is a phenomenal record."

"Opening with “This Is War”, the album quickly shifts in a driving metallic thrash that is capped off by Machado’s guttural growls, “La Liberacion Of Our Awakening” showcases the band’s aggressive and melodic sides with destructive results, while the delicate beauty of “This Pleasant Torture” completes the album." The album also features a guest appearance by the godfather of hardcore, Jamey Jasta, who turned in a Hatebreed style vocal beatdown to “Turns to Gray”. “He was home when we were recording the record," Pina said, "so we called him up and he came down to the studio to hang out and lay down his part." For Ill Niño it was the first time they had a guest vocalist having an own part in a song. Pina: "It was kind of cool and I think Jamey Jasta had that aura for that section there. It turned out that was just perfect for him to sing through because it came so natural for him when he came into the studio. It went down real quick, he knew exactly what he wanted to put and exactly how he wanted to phrase it. It turned out to be amazing." Incorporating an Ill Niño song with the NYC Hardcore wasn't really difficult for the band. "When you incorporate the melodies with a hardcore style of voice like Jamey Jasta and the result just seemed to work, it makes you feel like you can do anything. If you do it right, things will make it work. I think "Turns to Gray" was another song that just fucking worked."

Meaning of the lyrics: For "One Nation Underground" songwriter Machado challenged himself to look outside of himself for inspiration for the lyrics. Chavarri: "You can tell Cris Machado has taken a big step up both as a singer and lyricist. As much as the music has matured, the same is more than true of Cris' side of things." Previous efforts had focused exclusively on Machado’s relationships and personal struggles, but the lyrics on this album deal with deeper subject matter that tackles what is going on in society today. Machado: "The one message that I would think that the music is definitely trying to portray is in the song "La Liberacion Of Our Awakening", there’s a small part that says, "with open eyes we stare into our enslavement" and that’s pretty much what I think we are all doing. You know, to me I’m lucky to have music and to kind of have that release or at least that attempt at trying to get through to the youth of the world because I really think that the youth of the world is in charge of where we are going to be 50 years from now. So that was pretty much my attempt at perhaps making people open their eyes and realize that we are all being led down the same path and it really just depends on what country you live in."

The album is "a simple statement about what has become our social decline, our deconstruction of cultures, a unified world population in silent rising," Machado claims. "Overall, I think I read so many books over the last 2 years that I couldn't hold back from writing about topics that really affect our world and also affect the world our children will grow up in. Do we, as a common people, have any control over our world affairs? I don't think so. We have been raised to believe in standards that are created by our governments for the benefit of their own military growth; for the benefit of politically influenced corporations. I trully believe that this world is dominated through control and division of the masses. Governments don't want world unification because that would strenghthen the actual control people have over their countries. "One Nation Underground" could be the record to open the eyes and ears of those people who no longer want to be a silent member of society."

The album title: “Chris was thinking about a title that could mean a lot of things. We wanted a title that people could have their own interpretation of,” Pina said. “The fact that years have gone by and we’re still here on our third record in the underground; that was an inspiration on this album. This is a more underground approach musically and we are still an underground band. We’re six guys just creating music for the love of it.” Machado: "This record is about society being controlled and divided through all sorts of different influences both internal and external. Its about looking at the world around you and realizing that there are things that are going on that are hidden from normal people like you and I, so that's why record is called One Nation Underground."

The album cover is a representation of things you see in the urban environment. "When someone gets shot or dies in the street usually a friend or some family will put up a little memorial of where that person had their last breath," Pina claims. "They’ll put down candles and a couple of flowers at the memorial symbolizing the death of someone in the street. On the cover is a little boy looking down at this which is something very common. When people fall into crime and doing the wrong thing it starts normally at a early age. It comes from anger, it also comes from anger. When they get older they start to follow that tradition. (...) The process continues and that becomes a way of life and people should be aware of that. (...) Our kids should not be dying they should not be fighting, they should not be killing each other and they shouldn’t be playing with guns and weapons."

The success: Machado claims that the feedback for their third record had been amazing. "I think all the fans and most of the press that we have been getting back has been saying that they agree that it is the best Ill Nino record that has been put out so far." Pina: "Even if this record only sells five copies, I will still be the proudest of this record.” Eventually, the album sold approximately 250,000 copies.

• Passages of Album Reviews
"Overall I think Ill Niño managed to create another great album which, for a lot of people might be much better than their last one. Just check it out!"
- Erik Boekhoven (Metalrage)

"This is their epoch in every sense of the word and they came out swinging with every possible limb made available to them. No, we won’t get into which songs were great and which ones weren’t because honestly, every single cut on the disc will have the muscle and relevance to be played repeatedly. One play and you will see what we mean."
- Brodie Holmen (East Coast Romper)

"Nu Metal band Ill Nino return with their 4th full-length album One Nation Underground. This album has blown me over with its shear class. The percussion and Latin influence that Ill Nino incorporates into their Metal makes for an intriguing listen and while I tend to say away from the whole scream and sing scene , its hard to fault Ill Nino as they are so dam hot. Sure there are some songs that are way too polished for my liking, but the shear musical talent of Ill Nino over ways these moments. Ill Nino has really won me over with their album, One Nation Underground. Well worth your money."
- Asher Earache (Hard and Heavy Net)

"One Nation Underground stacks its hits up early, leaving the second half of the album to sag a little bit. But overall it sounds great (another excellent =and dense Scrap 60 production job), and comes off a lot stronger than you might expect from a band sometimes dismissed as a third-stringer in the current metal resurgence. Their overt commerciality (see "La Liberacion of Our Awakening", "What You Deserve", "All I Ask For") will alienate more underground types, but they weren't exactly lining up to support ILL NINO anyway. This is hard rock for the masses, accessible and polished, and for what it is, it's very well done."
- Keith Bergman (Blabbermouth)

"If Ill Nino somehow could've taken the anger in the verses of closer 'Violent Saint' and spread it over the rest of the album, One Nation Underground may at least have achieved "background music" status. Still, when stacked up against the unexpected credibility of the new Soulfly, the fury of Ill Nino couldn't level a house of cards. One Reviewer Underwhelmed."
- RebelX.org

"...Perhaps I wouldn’t be so harsh on this album if it wasn’t so evident in places that this band would be more than capable of tearing it up. I realise this may not have been the desired effect or point of the album, but I can guarantee that if Ill Niño had thrown in a bit more of the grunt and less of the emo, it could have been a pretty hard-hitting album. Unfortunately, the end result is anything but."
- Zero (FasterLauder)

Song Meanings: One Nation Underground (2005)

2005-09-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

06. LA LIBERACION OF OUR AWAKENING
Cristian: The one message that I would think that the music is definitely trying to portray is in the song ‘La Liberacion Of Our Awakening’, there’s a small part that says, “…with open eyes we stare into our enslavement” and that’s pretty much what I think we are all doing. You know, to me I’m lucky to have music and to kind of have that release or at least that attempt at trying to get through to the youth of the world because I really think that the youth of the world is in charge of where we are going to be 50 years from now. So that was pretty much my attempt at perhaps making people open their eyes and realize that we are all being led down the same path and it really just depends on what country you live in. But, the overall intention of it is just, I would just take that phrase, “with open eyes we stare into our enslavement.”

Confession (2003)

2003-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lyrics • Album Story • Song Meanings

Released: 09.30.03
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Marlette
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 Te Amo...I Hate You
02 How Can I Live
03 Two (vaya con dios)
04 Unframed
05 Cleansing
06 This Time's For Real
07 Lifeless...Life...
08 Numb
09 Have You Ever Felt?
10 When It Cuts
11 Letting Go
12 All The Right Words
13 Re-Birth
14 How Can I Live (spanish)

Enhanced Content:
- How Can I Live (video)

French version
Released: 12.23.03
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Marlette
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
(...)
15 How Can I Live (gold mix)
16 I'll Find A Way
17 Someone Or Something

Enhanced Content:
- How Can I Live (video)

Japanese version
Released: 11.29.03
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Marlette
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
(...)
15 Someone Or Something

Enhanced Content:
- How Can I Live (video)

Lyrics: Confession (2003)

2003-09-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

01. TE AMO...I HATE YOU
confession
---------------------------------------

Te amo... I hate you
Te amo and I hate you
Te amo... I hate you
You always think that you are right

Everything you ever promised to not do you did
You fucked me up so just admit it
You are just another bitch and I know that you did it
How could you let us split in two

I was just another game so fuck you
There is nothing I could do
You're so tough, so bad, so cold
But now you eat your words

Don't try
Telling all your fucking lies
'Cause I
Make you eat your words and die
Don't try
Telling all your fucking lies
'Cause I
Make you eat your words and die

Think you're better but I know that you will never get it
This page will turn and you'll regret it
Everything you ever promised to not do you did
How could you let us split in two

I was just another game so fuck you
There is nothing I could do
You're so tough, so bad, so cold
But now you eat your words

Don't try Telling all your fucking lies
'Cause I
Make you eat your words and die
Don't try
Telling all your fucking lies
'Cause I
Make you eat your words and die

I was just another game so fuck you
There is nothing I could do
You're so tough, so bad, so cold
But now you eat your words
Right?

Two, I was just another game so fuck you
There is nothing I could do
You're so bad, so tough, so cold
But now you eat your words

Fuck you

02. HOW CAN I LIVE
confession
freddy vs. jason soundtrack
---------------------------------------

I am
So unlike you, in so many ways
I know
I’m just a copy, that carries on the stain

But, we make the same mistake
Cause, we are one and the same
But, we leave behind the stain
That cannot separate

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

I am your mirror image
Of all you left behind
You made me what I am
And who the hell am I?

But, we make the same mistake
Cause, we are one and the same
But, we leave behind the stain
That cannot separate

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

Why, yo no entiendo porque
I know that our lives are the same
Y mi vida is just a guessing game, a dirty stain that I cannot play
But I follow your steps
In that same way that you just
Walked away and pushed away
The fact that I will not live

Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you
Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

03. TWO (VAYA CON DIOS)
confession
---------------------------------------

You think you're so right
You think you know that
You think you know this
You think you know everything

You take advantage
You take for granted
You think we're friends
But I can say we're not

When will this shit ever end?

This is not cool
I can't undo
It's OK cause
You didn't have what it takes

To roll with
All the punches
So much nonsense
Yo te conozco

We showed you how to fight
Brought you two, the light
Taught you what was wrong
And the things that were right

Both of you believe
That your shit doesn't stink
All I ask is
When will this shit ever end?

We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right

You're so pure
You're so immature
I think I know you
I think I hate you

The little putos
That think they chulo
I want to see you
Weasel your way in

But we showed you how to fight
Brought you two, the light
Taught you what was wrong
And the thinks that were right

Both of you believe
That your shit doesn't stink
All I ask is
When will this shit ever end?

We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right

I thought that we were friends
I thought we were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right

Yo te conozco

When will this shit ever end?
We were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right

I thought we were so tight
I thought that we were friends
I don't think it's all right

04. UNFRAMED
confession
---------------------------------------

I'm feeling like I don't belong

I remember when we spoke back then
I was cold and insincere

I was just nineteen and so naive
And didn't care what you feel

Now I see

My father's one and only
Call is what could have saved me

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

She never framed you

I can't place the blame, you gave her pain
But she lied to me for years

Though she gave me life, I wonder why
She never even feared

That I would

Grow up so self-destructive
Fucked up and indecisive

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

You were not there
You did not care
I'm not myself
I need to get my life
I need to take my life back

You were not there
You did not care
I'm not myself
I need to get my life
I need to take my life back

You were not there
You did not care
I'm not myself
I need to get my life
I need to take my life back

I've seen your face in pictures unframed
I've seen your face in pictures unframed

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

I've seen your face
In pictures with names
That never were framed

That never were framed

Who am I?
Today

05. CLEANSING
confession
---------------------------------------

From guilt to dust
You think that I don't want to hate you
I know that I never did like you
This is not another passing phase
But I can see your face
But when shit will finally break me
Persistent in trying to get me
El fuego que quema adentro
Gets to my head

Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say

You think that you're so much like me
But you will not ever remind me
Of everything that I cannot embrace
But I can see your face
I'm trying to never remember
I'm trying to not point the finger
El fuego que quemo adentro
Gets to my head

Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say

I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
This is not a passing phase
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
I think I kind of hate you
I never really liked you
This is not a passing phase

Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say
Stay away
I never want to see your face
Forget my name
There's nothing you can do or say

06. THIS TIME'S FOR REAL
confession
---------------------------------------

Why do you tell me all these lies?
I just want to live my life
I don't want to leave my dreams behind
Tell me
Why am I only getting older?
My patience getting shorter
I'm running out of time
And I hope that I get what I wanted

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

Why do you make me feel denied?
Always pushing me aside
You do not decide what's wrong or right
Tell me
Why am I feeling so much pressure?
Am I searching for the answer?
I'm running out of time
And I hope that I get what I wanted

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?

07. LIFELESS...LIFE...
confession
---------------------------------------

Yo no entiendo lo que es
Everything is just a haze
Yo no entiendo lo que es
Everything is just a haze

I just need
I just need to become your disease
I could be
I could be all that you will believe
I will freeze
I will freeze and distort all your dreams
You will feed
You will feed enough to never get away

I make you feel like yourself
Don't think of asking for help
Just stay
I will take you away

My drug is everything I wanted her to be
She helps me deal and run away from life
I couldn't cope and wouldn't even try
When the well's running dry

That is how I was meant to be
Is it me? Everything that you need is in me
I could be
I could be all that you will believe
I will turn
I will turn you so numb and so cold
You will feed
You will feed enough to never get away

I make you feel like yourself
Don't think of asking for help
Just stay
I will take you away

My drug is everything I wanted her to be
She helps me deal and run away from life
I couldn't cope and wouldn't even try
When the well's running dry

My drug is everything I want it to be
I never thought that I'd be down here begging, down on my knees
But hey, it's my life and I think it's not funny
I chose it myself and that's all that you owe me
For life, life, life, life, life, life, life...lifeless...
Life, life, life, life, life

My drug is everything I want it to be
I never thought that I'd be down here begging, down on my knees
But hey, it's my life and I think it's not funny
I chose myself and that's all that you owe me
For life, life, life, life, life, life, life...lifeless...
Life...lifeless, life...lifeless, life
When the world's running dry

08. NUMB
confession
---------------------------------------

I loved you
You were all that I wanted
Then, I watched you
Turn into someone else

Well I'm sick of the fighting
I'm sick of just blaming myself

Well I'm sick of escaping
I'm sick of erasing

Your face and the places
That give me a trace to you

But I will never find you

I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you

I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you

Well if I can deceive you
Then why can't I leave you alone

Well if everything's painful
Then why do I wait for

Your face or the place
That will give me a trace to you

But I will never find you

I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you

I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you

Siento el amor
Siento el dolor
Siento el amor
Siento el calor
Siento el amor
Siento el dolor

But I will never find you

I can't hold on
I'm feeling numb
From everything you do
And put me through
When I was part of you

I'm feeling numb
From holding on
To everything that you
Had put me through
When I was part of you

09. HAVE YOU EVER FELT?
confession
---------------------------------------

Sometimes I feel like the world is looking over my shoulder
I don't know why but I feel my patience getting shorter

I don't want to know
I don't want to feel
I don't want to be
I don't want to sound crazy

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

Away

The tension builds but I feel the walls are getting thicker
And then I still make believe that I am feeling better

I don't want to know
I don't want to feel
I don't want to be
I don't want to sound crazy

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

Away

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

I don't want to sound insane
But I can't take the pressure
Have you ever felt the same?
Like you just need to run away

10. WHEN IT CUTS
confession
---------------------------------------

I cannot justify your envy
But I will be understanding when you stay
Then I will satisfy you in every (way)
But I'm not feeling coherent when you say

When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again

Again

Though I'm right, I don't think I'll win this fight
But I'm trying though it's ripping me inside
Just in case that I'm taking up your space
I'll be feeling too, whatever's left inside

When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again

I can't go on
I'm not that strong
I'm so alone
You just gotta set me free

I'm still living day, no way
I don't care what you say
Your eyes despise my lies
Just say goodbye

When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I
When it cuts, it cuts, it cuts hard
And I die again

Again, again

Waste your breath

11. LETTING GO
confession
---------------------------------------

I still hear my voice
It's calling in my head
But if I had only one choice
I'd leave it left unsaid

Unsaid

I try to reach you but my senses got so blurry
And I, try to teach you but my words come out so muddied
And I, if there's one thing that I should let you know
It's go away
But I keep fighting and I'm finding your injustice

It's just killing me (killing you)
I cannot breathe
Just let me go (killing me)
Or this will break me

My inner voices
Are part of my disease
'Cause it's pushing me to hurt you
But killing you is just killing me

If I can't have you and the dreams you put inside my head
I would not leave you but I keep you here until our death
You think it's over, there's a gun in my head full of lead
I want to use it but I can't abuse it and that's why

It's just killing me (killing you)
I cannot breathe
Just let me go (killing me)
Or this will break me

My inner voices
Are part of my disease
'Cause it's pushing me to hurt you
But killing you is just killing me

What are you waiting for?
You will never get away
What are you waiting for?
You will not get away

What are you waiting for?
You will never get away
What are you waiting for?
You will not get away

(Unsaid)

My inner voices
Are part of my disease
'Cause it's pushing me to hurt you
But killing you is just killing me

'Cause killing you is killing me

12. ALL THE RIGHT WORDS
confession
---------------------------------------

I can smell the way you taste
I chase every breath you take
And I'll wait

Why would I deny?
I don't have to lie
Was there something that I missed?
Well it's not this

All you say is that I'm playing games
But if I stay, I'll just go crazy
Throw away the promise that you made
And understand

I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

You move how I want you to
You prove I belong to you
And I do

Why would I deny?
I don't have to lie
Was there something that I missed?
Well it's not this

All you say is that I'm playing games
But if I say, I'll just go crazy
Throw away the promise that you made
And understand

I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care

But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care

But this is not how I feel
And there is nothing for real
Though I don't know you
I don't even care

I just want to touch you
I just want to fuck you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

Can I lie to you?
Like you want me to
I'll say that I'm in love with you

13. RE-BIRTH
confession
---------------------------------------

Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig

Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig

Sucker, nothing left to lose
Nothing left to choose
And suffer, everything you do comes back
And

Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me

Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me

Then, I was only just a boy
Dying young and growing old
But I know what I knew was wrong

My whole family lied to me
By their rules, I cannot be
Led by the lies out of my face

Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me

Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me

Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be

Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me

Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me

And if you think you got the answer
Well think again 'cause you know
Better than this yourself
So ask that question to yourself

So ask yourself just who you are
Where you've been
What you know
Where you'll go

Get what you're gonna get
When you get
What you get
To live inside of me

Learn what you're gonna learn
When you learn
How to burn
To live inside of me

Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be

Nothing you did
You left me here for dead
Something in me
Just let me be

Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig

Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig

Corre perro come mierda
This is what you get now
You think that you can get away
You little pig

14. HOW CAN I LIVE (SPANISH)
confession
---------------------------------------

Eres parecido en todo lo que soy
Sigo escondido, Perdido es lo que estoy

No! Que no me deja ver
Por! Que no me deja ser
No! Eres igual que yo
Espera lo peor!

No puedo vivir
No quiero mentir
Tu eres parte de mi x2

No he conocido todo tu dolor
Sigo mal sentido y pierdo el control

No! Que no me deja ver
Por! Que no me deja ser
No! Eres igual que yo
Espera lo peor

No puedo vivir
No quiero mentir
Tu eres parte de mi x2

Y ya no puedo ver
Nacido sin querer
(No te encuentro)

Yo si pienso en ti
Yo si sueno en ti
No se si piensas de mi

Yo si sueno en ti
Yo si pienso en ti
No se si piensas de mi

No puedo vivir
No q! uiero mentir
Tu eres parte de mi x2

15. HOW CAN I LIVE (GOLD MIX)
confession french version
---------------------------------------

I am
So unlike you, in so many ways
I know
I’m just a copy, that carries on the stain

We make the same mistake
We are one and the same
We leave behind the stain
That cannot separate

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

I am your mirror image
Of all you left behind
You made me what I am
And who the hell am I?

We make the same mistake
We are one and the same
We leave behind the stain
That cannot separate

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

We make the same mistakes
We are one and the same
Even I know

Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you
Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you

All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All the lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?

16. I'LL FIND A WAY
confession (french version)
how can i live (maxi single)
---------------------------------------

Tu vida isn't what you want until you let it break
You only look beyond yourself and always stand down

If there's wrong or right, will I live or die?
there's a meaning I, don't see in black and white

To all the kids that walk in sin, feel decieved
Rise up, believe
And raise your head, say with me

I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I make a difference in this world
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I'll find a way

Don't believe in what you hear
It's all but led by fears
Only half of what you see
Is what you'll really be

To all the kids that walk in sin, feel decieved
Rise up, believe
And raise your head, say with me

I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I make a difference in this world
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I'll find a way, I'll find a way
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I make a difference in this world
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I'll find a way, I'll find a way

But tonight I'll reach a level up high
Esta aqui buscalo en ti
Everything is up to you, vive en tu juventud
La vida es part of this
Everything is up to you, vive en tu juventud
La vida es part of this
Tu vida isn't what you want untill you let it break

I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I make a difference in this world
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I'll find a way
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I make a difference in this world
I won't surrender, I will remember
I can, I'll find a way

17. SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
confession (french version)
---------------------------------------

You make me feel so unreal
I want to live, understand
In our lies and not to fear
The ones you say
RIGHT

You're overrated on a system
But you keep insisting
That even way back then, you should have been a ten
I was just a sucker punk
Trying to get it on, once I got you - forgot you
I will leave you high and dry
So high and dry your fucking dirty, sweaty clothes are gonna dry
I don't mean to diss, I really wanna kiss
But not to go through this again

Someone or something is playing with my head
And I can't stand it
I'm trying to not let this shit get to my head
But I can't stand it

And then your constantly persisting
Pissing on the system
Trying to conflict, but you can suck my dick
Now that I got you - completely forgot you
Maybe I am just a prick
But a prick that you picked and then thats what you licked
Not to be a diss, I don't wanna kiss
But you can suck on this again

Someone or something is playing with my head
And I can't stand it
I'm trying to not let this shit get to my head
But I can't stand it

But tonight I'm afraid
I'm only trying to get closer
I'm already tryin to get further
But the the only one thing that decides is the words
That make up the answers

Why...why...why
With the words left unsaid

Someone or something is playing with my head
And I can't stand it
I'm trying to not let this shit get to my head
But I can't stand it

Why... When the words are left unsaid

Album Story: Confession (2003)

2003-09-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Writing the album: "It's going to be more of everything. More heavy parts, more commercial parts, more singing, more screaming, more acoustic guitars, more samples," drummer Dave Chavarri said in an interview in 2002 about their upcoming second full-length release. The band started writing new material on their Revolution Revolución tour, which lasted for 20 months. In late 2002 the band recorded the first demos, "About Them", "Every Day", "Make Me Feel" and "When It Cuts". All 4 songs leaked to the internet. Vocalist Cristian Machado doesn't really think it was a bad thing, but wished that the band "would be able to put something out that we feel that is final at least. And then we would even go as far as releasing it on the Internet ourselves." Machado claims that the demos were experimental, the band "would never release these demos publically, because obviously a lot of things on the demo weren't things we were into. You might get the wrong representation of the band."

The pre-production process: In early April 2003 the band started pre-production with Bob Marlette (Saliva, Black Sabbath). "It was great with Bob," bassist Laz Pina claims, "he really helped the band to stay focused and really wanted us to express ourselves individually." Roughly 26 songs/ideas were written. Chavarri: "we let every individual member go home and create on their own what they're feeling and what speaks to them musically and what makes them do music for the art of it. After that we’ll get together and jam together and have all the riffs and ideas surface and we’ll start putting the songs together and start creating jams. Jam on one part, jam on another part and see what works and what doesn’t work." In the end the band was bringing the number of songs down to 15-16. Recording officially started on April 15th at the Water Music Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey. In May (05.09) the band announced the departure of guitarist Marc Rizzo and percussionist Roger Vasquez. "We're parting as friends," Chavarri stated. "In fact, Marc is playing guitar on the record totally living up to his commitment to the band." Pina: "they discovered they needed to leave the band. Unfortunately, they told us two days before we were due to enter a studio!" A month later (06.23) the new members were announced: guitarist Ahrue Luster (ex-Machine Head) and percussionist Danny Couto (ex-Point4Hope).

Participants: After three months into songwriting, Ill Niño had to stop and look for new members. "Everything changed and that influenced some of the writing on the record," Pina claims. Rizzo still recorded guitar parts for 10 songs. Luster, who didn't come in until the last part of the recording process, recorded guitars for the songs "Te Amo...I Hate You", "Cleansing" and "Have You Ever Felt?". Couto and Joe Rodriguez (The Brew) did all percussion on the album. Omar Clavijo did all programming, turntables and keys for the album, the piano tracks for "Numb" and "All The Right Words" were done by producer Marlette. Guitarist Mikey Doling (Soulfly, Snot) and vocalist Max Illidge (40 Below Summer) were additional members on respectively "Two (vaya con dios)" and "Have You Ever Felt?"

Mixing the album: The mixdown of the album started in late June with mixing vet Michael Barbiero (Anthrax, lostprophets, Guns'N'Roses). All songs except "How Can Live" where mixed at the Soundtrack Studios in NYC. "How Can Live" was mixed by Jay Baumgardner (Coal Chamber, Papa Roach) at NRG Recording, No. Hollywood, CA. On 07.21.03 Roadrunner Records announced that the mixing and mastering was done for the album and that it would be in stores September 30th. There were no delays this time and the album was officially released at September 30th 2003, with a standard bonus track; a Spanish version of "How Can I Live".

Musical direction: "On this record the Latin stuff is a lot more Latin," Luster said, "the heavy stuff is heavier, the melodic stuff is more melodic. I think that the sounds blend together more on this record." Pina claims that the new album "has more Latino tribal rhythm. It’s got a little bit of everything while still maintaining the integrity of what the band is." Musically, the album sounds different from Ill Niño's first full-length. Pina: "We didn’t want to do the same record twice. We wanted a new record and we wanted to keep it interesting. We just feel that we have a lot to offer in music and we wanted to bring that out."

Meaning of the lyrics: The album title reflects Machado's lyrical confessions in the songs. "A lot of things and experiences that I've gone through in my life, it's good to get them out and just write about them and past that point in my life. And it's a lyrical concept also. If you gonna write about something, it's good to write about something that's very interesting and I found my life to be a pretty interesting thing." Machado's lyrics are deeper and more personal on this album: the lyrics are “about coming clean with your thoughts, your past experiences, and within yourself. It’s about telling the truth, not only to others, but also to yourself.” Good examples are "Unframed", which is about Machado's real father he had not known for almost 20 years after his birth, and "Numb", which is about a groupie Machado fell in love with.

The cover art for Confession shows hands holding a rosary. "When you look at the hands," Machado said, "the hands are praying and they're being put together, but the index fingers are crossed. (...) With crossing your fingers you hope that luck is on your side. It's supposedly from a religious point of view luck doesn't exist, everything is not to be. So it's a praying with the hoping that luck is on your site, it's like belief and disbelief. It's an opposite of what it's really supposed to be. It's kinda like what I did lyrically."

The success: Confession sold 27,863 copies its first week and debuted at #37 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and #8 on the Hard Music chart. The first single "How Can I Live" was #28 on the Mainstream Rock charts, #31 on the Active Rock charts, and #30 on the Heritage Rock charts. In the December issue of Guitar World, Ill Niño was a part of the "Masters Of Brutality: The 10 Metal Bands You Need To Know...Now!" list. The second single for the album was "This Time's For Real", which did well too. Eventually, the album nearly reached the "Gold" status, selling almost 500,000 copies. In late 2006 more than 550.000 copies were sold.

B-sides: After the official release, a French version of "Confession" was released with 3 bonus tracks, b-sides "I'll Find A Way" and "Someone Or Something" and a mix of "How Can I Live".

• Passages of Album Reviews
"Bombastic journalist criticisms aside, Ill Nino have created an extremely solid numetal release in Confessions. Any supporter of the modern popular metal scene should do themselves a favour and check the album out. In the phantasmagoric numetal arena, Ill Nino stands clearly above all challengers, having successfully created an extremely unique and palatable forty-five-odd-minute release."
- The Hobo Review (Rocknworld)

"If you were a fan before, then Confession will be your ideal album. If you weren’t convinced before, then you won’t be now."
- Justin Donnelly (Blistering)

"Confession takes ill niño to the next level; and it’s a stratospheric experience for any listener."
- Del Harvey (fmSound)

"One thing with metal bands is that so often their live shows add a whole new dimension to a recording and having been lucky enough to have seen Ill Niño live myself, I know that this band can tear any venue apart when they play there and listening to an album simply doesn't compare, but this still is a brutal album with killer riffs and some powerful production and it's about as good as you can get in recorded form… and besides, it closes with a nod to their Latino roots by repeating the second track, 'How Can I Live?' in Español!"
- Tim Cashmere (Undercover)

"While Linkin Park could be seen as a favourable comparison, it is not when you look at Ill Nino's previous album. 'Revolution Revolucion' was bursting with passion; punching you in the stomach with a silken boxing glove. 'Confession' in comparison is an insipid, tinny and watered down version of their former sound, following a neat tried-and-tested recipe, all the time becoming a part of the rock mainstream. This might have a wider appeal but existing fans may be disappointed with this dull album."
- Nicola W (MetalUK)

Song Meanings: Confession (2003)

2003-09-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

01. Te Amo...I Hate You
Te Amo...I Hate You is the result of the years of touring Ill Niño did after the release of Revolution Revolución. When the band returned to the US, they learned people they considered friends weren't and vice versa. Ill Niño found out the hard way some people aren't as honest as they seem. The words said in the faces of the band members didn't match up to what these so-called friends spread behind their backs.

02. How Can I Live
This song is about growing up without a father. A father you only know from photos. Cristian and his father are both musicians, make the same mistakes and have the same personality. Cristian never met his father.

03. Two (Vaya Con Dios)
Cristian: About two bandmembers who parted ways with the band. This song is my response to their departure. Two people I thought that were friends, left us. I can only say to Marc and Roger: "May God be with you."

04. Unframed
Christian was born in Brasil, but raised in Venezuela. In 1986 he came to the US. So far so good. But in his teens he found out the man he thought to be his father, was actually his stepfather. His mum had kept this from him. His real dad was still living in Brasil. For a while his mum didn't tell Christian the whereabouts of his dad until on one day his father phoned him. But Christian, being a 19-year old immature boy, told the man who gave him life he didn't want to meet him. Until now Christian only stays in touch with his dad by phone and email, but his wish is to play in Brasil and meet his dad with the members of Ill Nino.

06. This Time's For Real
This Time's For Real is basically a song about being at a point in your life where you feel this might be the first time in your life you have something that means something. But then asking yourself two minutes later the question 'Is there anything I ever fucking wanted? Is there anything that I needed?' That's what the lyrics say. That's pretty much what it is. It's just about being fed up with all the wrong and fucked up things that can go in a relationship.

08. Numb
Cristian: This song is about a bitch that messed up my life. It's about a groupie I fell in love with. It's been a big mistake to fall in love with her, she was the wrong person to fall in love with. I've been trapped.

Revolution Revolución (2001)

2001-09-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Lyrics • Album Story • Song Meanings

Released: 09.18.01
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Chavarri
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 God Save Us
02 If You Still Hate Me
03 Unreal
04 Nothing's Clear
05 What Comes Around
06 Liar
07 Rumba
08 Predisposed
09 I Am Loco
10 No Murder
11 Rip Out Your Eyes
12 Revolution Revolución
13 With You

Digipack version
Released: 10.22.02
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Chavarri
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
(...)
14 Fallen
15 God Save Us (live)
16 Eye For An Eye (live)
17 What Comes Around (spanish)
18 Unreal (spanish)

Enhanced Content:
- What Comes Around (video)

Lyrics: Revolution Revolución (2001)

2001-09-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

01. GOD SAVE US
revolution revolución
revolution revolución digipak
god save us mini single
what comes around maxi single
hard 'n heavy sampler
rock sound sampler 27
---------------------------------------

God save us
This new life has brought us this new knife
It's worthless and mindless to preach. I resist that
Yeah right!

God save us
This new life has brought us this new knife
It's worthless and mindless to preach. I resist that
I am!

I am what you despise
I am just a disgrace you will never embrace
The strength will rise
Everything that I do burns against you
These words are just a speck
In what you call my life's wreck
Mistakes forsake and every word will break

This is hard to believe, I am not what you see
All the pressure is breaking down on me
I will take what is mine and won't waste any time
Don't believe in what you want for me

God save us
El control has brought us
El color de sangre y hambre, it's our turn
We will burn

Liar! This life is mine
My intentions are real, this is my killing field
I will not shine
Our souls turn to rust, turn our bodies to dust
My life is just a trek
In what you call my last breath
Mistakes forsake, then every word will break

This is hard to believe, I am not what you see
All the pressure is breaking down on me
I will take what is mine and won't waste any time
Don't believe in what you want for me

This is hard to believe
All the pressure is breaking down on me
I will take what is mine
Don't believe in what you want for me

God save our souls, yeah

God save us!
This new life has brought us this new knife
Tu control, tu color, it's our turn, we will burn!!

I am what you despise
How can I be oppressed and then confess?
The strength will rise
Everything that I do burns against you
These words are just a speck
In what you call my life's wreck
Mistakes forsake, then every word will break

God save us
This new life has brought us this new knife

02. IF YOU STILL HATE ME
revolution revolución
god save us mini single
rock sound sampler 29
---------------------------------------

The feelings you are breaking
Are feelings I was faking
My eyes begin to shut, my life's a bitch
Want me to cut you up?
Your life is one big shout out
You think I'm fake, you are a snake

These are my fears

I fear if you still hate me, you're thinking of me
I'm here and I still don't know, I feel so low now

You make my life so aching
My every thought you're breaking
My ears begin to bleed, words you're riffing
I'm here to shut you up
Your life is one big fuck up
You think I'm fake, you're a snake

These are my fears

I fear if you still hate me, you're thinking of me
I'm here and I still don't know, I feel so low now

I cannot see how you can be
So fucking hateful of my ways
From all these thoughts I will not stray
The hate I feel today

My life is not something you think you can run
You should have learned
This is the reason we're done
I hate your ways and everything that you say
I wish you dead

03. UNREAL
revolution revolución
unreal maxi single
---------------------------------------

Separate your mind
Overcome in time
I'm taking what is mine
Tenemos que pelear

Nothing is all, I thought I was there
I'm finding myself going nowhere
Is this a mistake?
I cannot relate to what is fake

Is this what I get for learning to speak?
For opening eyes and digging in deep?
Is this what I get for being reborn from the norm?

I don't want to shine; light will make us blind
I don't want to feel unreal
What have I become, born under the sun?
Planets will converge for you

I'll try to break you

What would it take to not look away?
To open my eyes and stare in the face
To learn from what's real
I'm trying to deal, but it's worthless

Is this what I get for learning to speak?
For opening eyes and digging in deep?
Is this what I get for being reborn from the norm?

I don't want to shine; light will make us blind
I don't want to feel unreal
What have I become, born under the sun?
Planets will converge for you

Pushing and grinding is twisting my mind frame
El tempo que pesa nos tumba la mesa
Y ahora que es nuestro, mi vida te apuesto,
Bet my life

I don't want to shine, light will make us blind
I don't want to feel unreal
What have I become, born under the sun?
Planets will converge for you

I don't want to feel
I don't want to shine
I don't want to feel
Light will make us blind
I don't want to feel unreal

04. NOTHING'S CLEAR
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

Fuck this place up

You know you're right, I'm just tired
Correctando, burn our fire
Esta fuerza es me espada
Trippin' on this, no se nada

Anyway, nothing's clear, analyze what I fear
Anyway, nothing's clear and you lie

Nuestra vida, driven by you
Pushing our way, stay away
Ruined my life, that is so true
This is our day, piss away
You know you're right,
You're wrong and you know everything
Correctando, you feel the sting
Take what you brought, the shit you bring
Our new feeling

Anyway, nothing's clear, analyze what I fear
Anyway, nothing's clear and you lie

Este es el amor el que siento
No lo tengo este momento
Este es el amor ella es mia
No la tengo toda vida
Este es el amor es que siento
No lo tengo este momento

Fuck this place up

Anyway, nothing's clear, analyze what I fear
Anyway, nothing's clear and you lie

05. WHAT COMES AROUND
revolution revolución
what comes around maxi single
---------------------------------------

I hate you, I hate you
Shut up

You think that I'm the one to blame
Everything I lose is just a piece of what there is to gain
You think it's cool and all is fine
Now is the day when you pay, this is my time
I feel for you nothing but pain
I am what you will be, you are dying in me
I love you, I hate you, I miss you

You're always thinking you're so perfect
Those thoughts drove me away from home
But if you put me through your tests
Then I will fade

I have nothing to say
But I feel like my mouth is wide open
Everything that is real
Comes around
Comes around

Shut up

Your stupid face just makes me sick
I see you changing every day
To fit into the newest clique
I know you, but everything you do
Is just a part of you, you'll never see the truth
I hate the way you make me feel
I hate the way you think you're real
Your one voice it destroys my one choice

You're always thinking you're so perfect
Those thoughts drove me away from home
But if you put me through your tests
Then I will fade

I have nothing to say
But I feel like my mouth is wide open
Everything that is real
Comes around
Comes around

Tu vida es mia
Your fear is living here in me

Es que no entiendo come en la vida puedes acer
La paz entre nostros cuando no vas a decir
Y la gratitude que tu nunca vas a ver
Has now turned to hate

I have nothing to say
But I feel like my mouth is wide open
Everything that is real
Comes around
Comes around
Shut up

06. LIAR
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

For all the pain that calls my name
I burn your picture in the same way
That you burned the things you see in me

And all the pills wash it away
They tell me how and what to say
I need that numbness here in me, to be

I'm feeling sick and living on everything
That's dead in me
You bring it out of me
Hate is what I need
Your life is built on this
And bitch you'll never strip me from this
From the pain I arise, from the pain I arise
Nothing more, liar, liar, liar, liar

You say things would be the same
Yo se things would be the same

Liar
All my hate is now arising

For all the feelings that are right
There's still a fear that we must fight
And I would kill for you to feed from me

I'm feeling sick and living and breathing only nothing
That is real, your hate is what I feel
You think you're made of steel
Your life is built on this
And bitch you'll never strip me from this
From the pain I arise, from the pain I arise
Nothing more, liar, liar, liar, liar

You say things would be the same
Yo se things would be the same

Bring you, bring you down

Liar, liar, liar, liar

You said things would be the same

07. RUMBA
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

Laying on your back again
You know you will regret this
Yo espero y quiero
Leaving these knots tied, give up to me

Is it a mistake? You set me up
Cause this will only mean our disgrace

Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya
Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya

Say you want to be a friend
But real friends don't play pretend
La sangre off my face
Don't mean a thing, just give up to me

Is it a mistake? You set me up
Cause this will only mean our disgrace

Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya
Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya

The Gods want something

Pushing yourself on me will not get you there
And blinding me with your plea
You say you will be fair
Everything that you find inside you will regret
Read all the fucking signs, choke on your own sweat
The right thing would be us to be, reunite nothing
I fucking hate you, I fucking hate you, choke on your sweat

Is it a mistake? You set me up
Cause this will only mean our disgrace
Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya
Baila la Rumba Latina
Swallow the style that I bring ya

08. PREDISPOSED
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

This is my time, this is my time
And now you'll go back where you came from

Now is the time to accept I'm right
Was right
Por ser lo mas provocar was wrong
Was wrong
Everything's over and I feel sober
To start my life
That one step took me right there

True intentions are not
Predisposed to our fear
Searching without a cause

I will not stand here and be controlled
Inside
Lo necesito sin tu control
I'm not fine
Siento en me vena ninguna pena
Without a fear
I take that one step right here

True intentions are not
Predisposed to our fears
Soul searching without a cause

Like a game of chess I carved your chest
Don't snap back, pull the trigger into my neck
Bust your move, drop the news
It's a crying shame I'm feeling all the pain
And you want to slap my face
You'll try to put me in your place
We'll snap back, and then attack
This is a time to get my life back

True intentions are not
Predisposed to our fears
Soul searching without a cause

09. I AM LOCO
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

Life is weighing down on me, killing me inside
Something I could never be will guide me to the new
Light
Frustrated
Sedated
I pray to myself

God please
Don't take away from me
The only fucking thing
That I learned to believe
I am becoming the monster
You promised to keep him away
Now I feel like he's living in me

Anyway, I could never ever be
What you think is right for me
Are things that I will not believe
I want to start a new life
Get myself a sharp knife
Look into my own life
Kill things I don't like in me

But sometimes I feel OK
And think I'm unique
You always try to critique
I turn my back on it anyway
Sucker! Punk-ass motherfucker
I am loco, te falta un poco
To get your ass in a choke-hold

Just kill me, I can't breathe
I am guiding myself right to the end
I can't learn, come to terms
With the sickness that makes me crash and burn

I'm crying, I feel like I am dying but I'm trying
I beg to myself put my pride up on the shelf
Life is not forever
But if life will stay together
I would have a friend in my depression, have an end

But I've been thinking
And thinking always gets me into trouble
But since I have a double personality
I wasn't me you see
Now I'm a refugee
And everything inside of me is just a part of my Disease

Just kill me, I can't breathe
I am guiding myself right to the end
I can't learn, come to terms
With the sickness that makes me crash and burn

10. NO MURDER
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

It's time to take it back, I'm taking what is mine

Me lo vas debar
No murder, no murder, no murder

I realize that everything I want to be
Is everything that you once took away from me
Okay, I'm me and I'm so fucked up inside
And see I don't care - what is it?
And every sin I have done, right?

What more can you put me through?
What happened?
What do you, what do you want?
What more can you put me through?
What happened inside?

I don't even care, I don't even mind
Everything you do will turn against you
I don't even care, I don't even mind
Everything you do will turn against you

No more, no more, no more, no
No more, no more, no more
Murder me lo vas a deber
No murder, no murder, no murder

I realize that everything I want to be
Is who you are and all the things you are in me
And now I'm free and you are living inside of me
I am your every sin
You're the reason something's not right

What more can you put me through?
What happened?
What do you, what do you want?
What more can you put me through?
What happened inside?

I don't even care, I don't even mind
Everything you do will turn against you
I don't even care, I don't even mind
Everything you do will turn against you
I don't even care, I don't even mind
Everything you do will turn against you
No more, no more, no more, no
No murder, no murder, no murder, no murder
What the fuck have I been through, what happened?

11. RIP OUT YOUR EYES
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

Your mind is awakening, your soul is repenting
Stop pissing away all the hours and days
Take one last look at me, this is what you will be
If you keep on this way we will all turn to fire

All these pictures turn our eyes into stares
Their reaction proves that they just don't care
I will take one last look into your face
Fall to my knees, fold in disgrace

Rip out your eyes, rip out your eyes
The power within you will guide you and I
Rip out your eyes, rip out your eyes
They don't lie

Your mind is awakening, your soul is repenting
Stop pissing away all the hours and days
Take one last look at me, this is what you will be
If you keep on this way we will all turn to fire

All our actions paint a picture surreal
There's no way to erase the hate that I feel
I will take one last look into your face
Before we all crumble and fall

Rip out your eyes, rip out your eyes
The power within you will guide you and I
Rip out your eyes, rip out your eyes
They don't lie

Decide, inside, decide, inside

12. REVOLUTION REVOLUCIÓN
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

We are given this knife, now we're taking their life
The pact is made
We sold our souls for nothing more
The strands of life were once frayed
And now we're sacred and afraid
Living out the dreams that seem to be delayed

Que so mos libre pero un cancer
You say that you have found the answer
The future's not for me in your society
The light you see is never what it seems to be

Confusion, illusion
The nation that you took from me
Is one in which I won't burn
Because you won't learn that this is my
Turn to return

You can't sell us what you steal
We won't buy what isn't real
Our lives aren't secure
Our hearts won't endure
Fuck you and your

Y mi futuro es Negro, que yo soy un peligro
The vision that is sold
Just never seems to grow
The life that you cannot mold
Tu dices que es tu dolo
The fact is played, the story's old,
I'm fucking cold
To be like you and have your actions
To buy into the new perceptions
Of how my life should be, the vision I Should see
The future and the light is not what seems to be

Confusion, illusion
The nation that you took from me
Is one in which I won't burn
Because you won't learn that this is my
Turn to return

You can't sell us what you steal
We won't buy what isn't real
Our lives aren't secure
Our hearts won't endure
Fuck you and your

Fuck you and all your ways

Revolution, revolución
Revolution, revolución

13. WITH YOU
revolution revolución
---------------------------------------

There's something in your ways
That makes me wanna stay here for a thousand years
So just cry your fears
I need you everyday
Inside you I just want to wipe away your fears
So just cry your tears

And I wish, that I was, in you

If I stay, well than your tears will set you free
If I stay right here, and forever with you
Everything I feel for you
Is everything I want to stay here with you
If I stay right here, and forever with you

My eyes
My eyes

This is tearing me apart
I wish I could be in your soft arms
Feel you again
Anytime I feel like I've come too far
Then I will try to remember all ours and
Your memories I know

And I wish, that I was, in you

If I stay, well then your tears will set you free
If I stay right here, and forever with you
Everything I feel for you
Is everything I want to stay with you
If I stay right here, and forever with you

My eyes, my eyes
My eyes, my eyes

14. FALLEN
revolution revolución digipak
what comes around maxi single
---------------------------------------

Why can't you just be yourself
Live your life like someone else
It only brings you further
All your feelings and your dreams
Darkest thoughts I'll never see
It only gets you nowhere

Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me
Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me

Why can't I just be myself
Live my life through someone else
It only brings me further
All my feelings and my dreams
Darkest thoughts I'll never see
It only gets you nowhere

Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me
Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me

For me

Pues la cosa se puso muy fuerte
Right, right
Pues la cosa se puso muy fuerte

Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me
Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me
Is it alright, falling at my face
Life is not the same this time for me

17. WHAT COMES AROUND - spanish version
revolution revolución digipak
unreal maxi single
---------------------------------------

Te odio, te odio...

Calla! Calla!

Yo siento todo tu dolor,
Y todo lo que pierdo es una parte de lo que gane,
Adentro el temor esta comiendo lo que siento y comiendo lo que no sera,
No pienses en donde yo este,
Piensa lo que yo sere,
Y piensa en lo que nunca fue,
Lo siento adentro, adentro

Tu pierdes lo que esta adentro,
Tus pensamientos voy a ver,
Y en el centro lo que siento vas a ver

Yo no puedo decir,
Y vivir en lo perdido ehhh,
Si lo vas a llamar,
Regresar, regresar, regresar

Calla! regresar, Calla! regresara, Calla! regresara, Calla!

No sabes ya lo que decir,
Escuchas lo que dicen y escuchas lo que yo perdi,
Yo siento tu en tu dolor,
De todo el dolor tambien de toda tu verdad dolor,
No pienses en lo que sere,
Piensa en lo que nunca fue,
Y piensa en lo que no sere,
Que miente, mi mente, consiente

Tu pierdes lo que esta adentro,
Tus pensamientos voy a ver,
Y en el centro lo que siento vas a ver

Yo no puedo decir,
Y vivir lo perdido ehhh,
Si lo vas a llamar,
Regresar, regresar

Yo no puedo decir,
Y vivir lo perdido ehhh,
Si lo vas a llamar,
Regresar, regresar, regresar

Tu vida es mia,
Lo sientes,
Adentro estas en mi,
Es que no entiendo como en la vida puedes hacer,
La paz entre nosotros como vas a decir,
Y la gratitud que tu nunca vas a ver,
Es no lo que ves

Yo no puedo decir,
Y vivir lo perdido ehhh,
Si lo vas a llamar,
Regresar, regresar

Yo no puedo decir,
Y vivir lo perdido ehhh,
Si lo vas a llamar,
Regresar, regresar, regresar

Calla!

18. UNREAL - spanish version
revolution revolución digipak
---------------------------------------

Separandome
Reconocere

Si yo estaba alli, a donde me fui?
Y lo que perdi, yo lo siento en ti,
Y ahora que sos la ultima voz,
De los dos

No quiero perder, la ultima fe,
En mi corazon, me siento mejor,
Y todo lo mas, lo sigo con paz,
Por quizas

Si no vas a estar,
Junto a mi par,
No puedo vivir sin ti

Si tu ves el sol,
Siente mi dolor,
Que quedo aqui?
En mi

Es que me rompo,
Es que me rompo

Yo quiero llegar, a un cierto lugar,
Y pertenecer, sin tener que caer,
Y ahora que estoy, en el dia de hoy,
Yo me voy

No quiero perder, la ultima fe,
En mi corazon, me siento mejor,
Y todo lo mas, lo sigo con paz,
Por quizas

Si no vas a estar,
Junto a mi par,
No puedo vivir sin ti

Si tu ves el sol,
Siente mi dolor,
Que quedo aqui?
En mi

Toda la fuerza, que siento en las venas,
El tiempo que pesa, nos tumba la mesa,
Y ahora que es nuestro, mi vida te apuesto,
Es My life

Si no vas a estar,
Junto a mi par,
No puedo vivir sin ti

Si tu ves el sol,
Siente mi dolor,
Que quedo aqui?
En mi

Que quedo aqui?
Que quedo aqui?
Que quedo aqui?
En mi

Album story: Revolution Revolución (2001)

2001-09-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Signing to Roadrunner:
"Ill Nino, the latest Roadrunner signing, are in the studio now! As we speak they are hard at work at Showplace Studios in their hometown of New Jersey. From what I hear, it is located out back of some Jersey strip club, which should provide for some great inspiration..." the first ever Ill Niño newspost on the Roadrunner site begins with. The band was just signed by Mike Gitter (Roadrunner director of A&R) after their live performance at WSOU's "Ski Show".

Recording the album:
The new Roadrunner-signing started recording their first full-length on 11/06/2000 with producer Ron St. Germain (Tool, Soundgarden, Creed). "We chose him." Dave Chavarri says, "because we thought he could add more life and energy to our debut CD." But after three weeks Chavarri took over the production duty. "He was making the band too soft," according to Chavarri, who had experience with producing demos (including Ill Niño's). St. Germain was eventually not mentioned on the back cover of the album. Still, Chavarri "was never worried that the sound would be too polished or not heavy enough," because "Ill Nino has a sound all it's own, the band is very heavy and very aggressive."

Mixing the album:
For their debut, Ill Niño tried different things to make sure it would be right. "It's our first record and we want to be sure that it comes out exactly the way we want," Chavarri said, "It's the band's most important record and we want it to be right for our fans as well as ourselves." After being not satisfied with St. Germain's early mixes, the band found production company Scrap 60 (Eddie Wall, Steve Regina & Rob Caggiano) to mix "Revolution Revolución". "They do really good work over there," vocalist Cristian Machado said, "so we're totally confident that they're going to blow away anything else that would have happened."

The tracklist:
On November 22nd 2000, the band had tracked (layed down bass, drums and rhythm guitar for) 13 songs, with 4 already having vocals ("Unreal", "Rip Out Your Eyes", "No More", and "God Save Us"). In the final days of recording the 14th song was written, "the acoustic song", later called "With You". On March 21st the band set the tracks for the album, leaving "No More" out. On the 15th of June 2001 the track list was finalized, with 14 tracks again, having "No More" as #4. On the official release the song was cut once again, to be never released in any way.

Releasing the album:
After the band finished laying down the final recording touches, the album was scheduled for a June 5th release. But it would last till September 18th till the album was oficially released. The album release date was pushed back and forward many times. It is interesting to see how this happened by looking at the following quotes:

01.26.01 - "Street date is tentatively scheduled for 06/05." (Roadrunner news)

03.21.01 - "...their upcoming June release Revolution...Revolucion" (Roadrunner news)

03.21.01 - "The album is expected to see release on June 19th." (Shoutweb news)

04.03.01 - "Ill Nino "Revolution...Revolucion" Goes July" (Shoutweb news)

04.18.01 - "Our album is coming out June 19th" (ThePRP.com interview)

04.26.01 - "Final mix should be completed by May 10th." (Roadrunner news)

04.30.01 - "Their Roadrunner debut is due out July 17th." (Roadrunner news)

05.02.01 - "...currently slated for a July 10th release" (Roadrunner news)

05.02.01 - "Ill Nino Bring The 'Revolution' On July 10th" (Shoutweb news)

05.29.01 - "...the upcoming REVOLUTION...REVOLUCION, due out August 7th" (Roadrunner news)

05.31.01 - "Final mastering of their debut Revolution...Revolucion cd took place yesterday." (Roadrunner news)

06.04.01 - "...it is now going to come out 1 week earlier, on July 31, 2001" (Roadrunner news)

06.04.01 - "Ill Nino Bring The 'Revolution' On July 31st" (Shoutweb news)

07.03.01 - "A September 25th release date is likely." (Shoutweb news)

07.10.01 - "Ill Nino's debut release, Revolution...Revolucion to be in stores this summer." (Roadrunner news)

07.10.01 - "The release dates for all Roadrunner albums are currently unscheduled." (Shoutweb news)

08.06.01 - "ILL NINO REVOLUTION...REVOLUCION - street 9/18" (Roadrunner news)

09.18.01 - "...their debut Revolution...Revolucion IS IN STORES NOW." (Roadrunner news)

What happened? First of all, there were problems with St. Germain. Now Chavarri produced the album. Scrap 60 took over the mixing job. Songs were being reworked too. The mixing job was finished in early June, just before the
first street date. Secondly, vocals were rerecorded in Spanish for "What Comes Around", "Unreal", "I Am Loco" and another song. Since these songs were not planned to be on the album, this wasn't a big problem. The biggest influence on the delay is probably was Ill Niño's label, RoadrunnerRecords, which signed a distribution deal with Island/Def Jam. This made the fate of all Summer's Roadrunner-releases (except Slipknot's "Iowa") unknown; the release dates were all postponed.

Music styles:
The record has a lot of different styles of music to offer. "It's just one indication to the world that we are open to different styles of music," Machado said. "We go everywhere from Latin to hip-hop to industrial to heavy guitars." Chavarri: "Marc Rizzo is completely all about flamenco guitar, and Chris, who can be melodic and very brutal at times, and the Latin percussion with Roger (Vasquez) and myself, and Laz... I mean, it's everything; everything is in there." There is "I Am Loco", a "sort of hip-hop influence with sort of like a techno feel" according to guitarist Marc Rizzo. There is "With You", which started as a jam. "We were fuckin' around and we all vibed on it," Chavarri says. Rizzo: "That song is just really magical to me. It has a lot of meaning to me." There are samples and scratches, like in the intro of "Rumba", who were produced by DJ Scratch and the band themselves. And there are more commercial, radio-friendly parts like in "What Comes Around". Percussionist Roger Vasquez, who used everything from bongos to congas, timbales to tambores and tribal toms on the album, didn't have a problem with it; "we got to do it the way that we wanted to do it. (...) "It was like we want to take this song to radio, and the way it is it’s just got to tone it down a little bit, and it’s something that we went in ourselves and actually got to work with it and actually got to do it on our own, and we’re perfectly happy with it." Sill, Vasquez claims that this album is "brutal, and that’s it man."

Meaning of the lyrics:
The title may suggest that politics play an important role in this album's lyrics. Machado, responsible for the lyrics, claims this is not true. "Revolution Revolución" is about a personal revolution, not political or social. "Basically," Machado said, "there is a lot of fucked up shit going on in this world. I'm not going to get into all the negative karma and negative attitudes that are going on but let's just say that this is Ill Nino's revolution. Everything is in this record. All the lyrics and all the music is our revolution against the world. It's basically all the shit we've gone through in our lives. Our experiences, which we just vent through the music. We feel like this is our one chance to go against everything that somehow at some time in our lives has caused us some bad blood." Chavarri: "It's your revolution; revolt against what you aren't happy about." Cristian is "telling people: "Fuck you!" If somebody is putting you down or changing your mind, he tells you to do your thing and fuck them."

Cover art:
The original idea of the cover art for the album was about being restricted, the band wanted a powerful cover. Dave: "It's heavy and powerful so we wanted something powerful as a cover. We talked about it endlessly. We wanted something also Spanish, Latin. We were looking at mummies. We went to the library like a bunch of good little kids. We looked through all kinds of magazines." The band found a photograph of "one little girl that was mummified at eight years old. She was mummified with her hands around her legs." Because it would have been very expensive to get the rights of this photograph (20 cents per record), the band found Patrick McBride to do their own art. The actual cover was made out of clay and photographed. Dave: "We came up with the idea and then we hit Roadrunner with the idea. The art department has some cool people. We had Patrick McBride who did our pictures. He did the photos and he did this thing for the cover. He had a team of two other people. He just kept doing it and doing it until we were happy with it. We're totally happy with it and we think it's a great first record cover."

The singles:
The singles were believed to be "Unreal", "What Comes Around" and "Nothing's Clear". Chavarri: "We're going to see how it feels when the record's completed. We're going to sit and see what we like, what the label wants, what the management wants." Surprisingly, the band filmed their first video for "God Save Us", not a typical radiofriendly song. It didn't do really well. The second single was Ill Niño's break-through, "What Comes Around". The single version wasn't exactly the same as the album version; only 1 scream ended up on the single, all the other were cut. The same thing happened to the third single, "Unreal", although most screams were replaced by "normal" singing in there.

The success:
Dave Chavarri (drums) and "his" Ill Niño, with Cristian Machado (vocals), Laz Pina (bass), Marc Rizzo (guitars), Jardel Paisante (guitars), Roger Vasquez (percussion) had put out an amazing debut release, showing the world that "there's more to Latin music than just Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, and Enrique Iglesias." In the following years the album was sold more than 450,000 times, a big amount for a metal band, in a time where people illegally download music more than ever. Because of it's success, the album was re-released in 2002 with 5 bonus tracks including 2 of the 4 Spanish songs and new artwork.

Album reviews:
"Dave Chavarri said that with the album "The idea is to be as heavy as possible and as melodic as possible" and they did it. 'Revolution Revolucion' has an irresistible rhythm that you just can’t escape and burrows into the centre of your being. While the album may be deemed as too violent or aggressive, every song exudes pure emotions that are performed with such passion that absorbs the listener. They will be working on the second album over Christmas, all I hope for is that they don’t get anger management classes as a present."
- Nicola W (MetalUK)

"To pick the best tracks from this album would be like picking the funny bits in ‘The Holy Grail’. There are just too many to mention. Just go out and buy the damn thing. Ill Nino are the future sound of metal, Viva la revolution."
- Terry Bezer (Drowned In Sound)

"We'll have to note the name of ILL NINO, because there has to happen some kind of disaster to prevent this band of getting their share of success. The artwork for "Revolution Revolución" also has been designed very suiting to the content and rounds off an absolutely recommendable debut from the beginning to the end."
- Alex E. (The Metal Observer)

"Mix Latin lads with hardcore and what do you get? Latino hardcore, silly. It's heavy, pounding, throbbing from start to finish, utilizing at times acoustic guitars for some quiet bits. Again, it's most successful when vocalist Cristan Machado isn't raging like a Tuvan throat singer with laryngitis, but what are you going to do? And they've got the angry lyrics. "Nothing's Clear" begins "Fuck this place up," while "What Comes Around" starts off, "I hate you, I hate you – shut up..." which again leads me to wonder, can life be that bad for today's youth? Shoot, you got a CD pressed.... Anyhoo, if you like over-the-top heavy stuff, you know what to do."
- NY Rock

"Q calls it "sports metal," Kerrang! says "nu-metal," and me? I'd simply label it "tedium." Okay, that all-too-easy cheap-shot aside, Ill Nino's Revolution Revolucion debut isn't all that dodgy. In fact, if you're not listening too closely, or more accurately still, not expecting much, the record could yet (briefly) pull you in, as guilty as that sounds; they've got the nearly stadium-ready Deftones-via-Orgy hooks, occasionally clean-tenored "sensitive dude" melodies, ultra-percussive aggression to spare, and goddamn if you can't lift weights to this. And how 'bout it, the sextet sometimes play with an intensity like something's actually on the line (see one-trick pony "Rumba"). But look at it this way: There's miles between The Afghan Whigs-on-steroids narcotics of the 'Tones' White Pony and this, a record that will never have any remotely broad significance, basically because the whole platter is the epitome of "predictable" – as in, "Are you reaaadddyyyyyyy"-like mosh-groove to nowhere. Nonetheless, coming to a gym or tattoo parlor near you."
- Ink19

Revolution Revolución
Released: 09.18.01
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunne
Produced by: Chavarri
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
01 God Save Us
02 If You Still Hate Me
03 Unreal
04 Nothing's Clear
05 What Comes Around
06 Liar
07 Rumba
08 Predisposed
09 I Am Loco
10 No Murder
11 Rip Out Your Eyes
12 Revolution Revolución
13 With You

Digipack version
Released: 10.22.02
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Roadrunner
Produced by: Chavarri
© The All Blacks B.V.

Tracklist:
(...)
14 Fallen
15 God Save Us (live)
16 Eye For An Eye (live)
17 What Comes Around (spanish)
18 Unreal (spanish)

Enhanced Content:
- What Comes Around (video)

Song Meanings: Revolution Revolución (2001)

2001-09-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

01. God Save Us
Dave: Cris writes very weird lyrics and very cool lyrics I think. I think hes very deep in what he writes has a lot of meaning. And I think he writes with a meaning where everyone gets their own, kind of like, you know, a lot of bands write songs and theyre very very clear. He writes songs kind of in an obscure way where he wants people to have their own interpretation of what it is. Its about resisting. To him its probably a different thing when he wrote it. For a lot of people that ask who like the song its a different meaning.

12. Revolution Revolución
Dave: We're pissed off about personal situations that have happened to all of us. (...) Revolution has nothing to do with anything political. Revolution is about your own personal revolution: Don't let somebody steer you the wrong way; don't let somebody grab you, somebody move you.

13. With You
Cristian: We include elements of all the music that we love. We're such a heavy band that we want people to say, "I didn't think they would like mellow, emotional type music" but we do. A lot of Latin music is very soft, very emotional. Latin people are very romantic and they are very in touch with their feelings, whether they're mad or pissed or in love or if they like you they're going to be your friend for life.

Ill Niño EP (2000)

2000-10-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lyrics • Album Story

Released: 2000
Number of Discs: 1
Label: C.I.A. Recordings
Produced by: Chavarri
© 2000: Ill Niño Music

Tracklist:
01 - Nothing's Clear
02 - Disposed
03 - Rumba
04 - Fallen
05 - Part Of The Signs
06 - El Niño
07 - God Is I

Lyrics: Ill Niño EP (2000)

2000-10-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

01. NOTHING'S CLEAR
ill niño ep
roadrunner winter sampler
kerrang sampler 2001
faust soundtrack
---------------------------------------

You know you’re right, I’m just tired
Correctando la fe quemando fire
Este fuerza es mi espada
Trip on this, realize que no se nada
Anyway, nothing’s clear
Analyze what I do
Anyway, nothing’s clear
And you lie

Este vida, driven by you
Es la fuerza adentro es mi momento ruined my life, that’s so true
Look between the answers
Y no encuentro
You know you’re right, I’m wrong
And you know everything
Correctando la fe, can you feel the sting
Take what you brought, Issues you bring
Trip on this, the shoes that I am filling

Este es el amor el que siento
Y no lo tengo este momento
Este es el amor ella es mia
Y no la tengo toda via

02. DISPOSED
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

It's time to get back where you came from

Entre el amor si lo hicimos was right
Was right
Por ser lo mas provocar was wrong
Was wrong
Everything's over and I feel sober
To start my life
The one step took me right there

True intentions were not
Predisposed to our fears
Searching without a cause

Me hace falta este calor
Inside
Lo necesito sin tu control
I'm not fine
Siento en mis venas, ninguna pena
Without a fear
The one step took me right there

True intentions were not
Predisposed to our fears
Searching without a cause

Like a game of chess I carve your chest
Just don't snap back
And find a nigga with a snap neck
Bust your moves, drop the news
It's a crying shame
I'm feeling all the pain
And now you want to slap my face
You think that you can ruin my race
We snap back, we then attack
This is the time to get a life back
We snap back, we then attack
This is the time to get a life back

True intentions were not
Predisposed to our fears
Searching without a cause

03. RUMBA
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

Laying on your back again
You know you will regret this
Yo espero, y quiero
Leave, and the ties/knot give up to me

Is it a mistake, you set me up
But this will only mean our disgrace
Baila la Rumba latina
Swallow the style that I bring you

Say you want to be a friend
But real friends don't play pretend
La sangre, off my face
Leave, and the ties/knot give up to me

04. FALLEN
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

Be yourself
I wonder if this was great
I'll be myself
Want to know if this can go far
Contigo quiero ser un par
I wonder if this would wind up nowhere

Is it alright, Fallen at my face
No es lo mismo sin ti

Be youself
You wonder if this was bad
I'll be myself
Want to know if we can go far
Contigo quiero ser un par
Wonder if this would wind up nowhere

Pues la cosa se puso muy violent
Right, right
Pues la cosa se puso muy fuerte

05. PART OF THE SIGNS
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

This is our time to get our part right

Everything that you say
Everything that you do
Nothing will change
You feel my rage
Give in to me, you run through me

Dying, your presence feels right
That's a part of the signs
Need you here, once you're near
Release my fears
Now

Every word that you say
Every time that you burn
All thoughts you feel
I know they're real
I can spell you, I can tell you

Dying, your presence feels right
That's a part of the signs
Need you here, once you're near
Release my fears

Thinking life

Thinking life will rearrange
Hope our hearts will never change
Encontre adentro en ti
Everything I lost in me
De ti no quiero separame
Viviras adentro de mi sangre

You are the one
That's a part of the signs
Need you here, once you're near
Release my fears

Dying, your presence feels right
That's a part of the signs
Need you here, once you're near

06. EL NIÑO
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

As we appose on life, well stand aside,
Cause I thought its not right, can el niño
Make more reasons forced aside
Yes we can be, Don't you understand we're true latino bred,
Where that shit rolled us, this competition rolling over

Listen to what I teach, cause I don't like to preach
Listen to what I teach, cause I don't like to preach

El niño, el niño, el niño, turn it up
El niño, el niño, el niño, no stopping us

So what to do, when el niño come for you
Storming through, with mercury of power, so much fucking power
No bringing us to justice, wrecking anyone who confronts us
Bitch, you couldn't take our special forces

Listen to what I teach, cause I don't like to preach
Listen to what I teach, cause I don't like to preach

El niño, el niño, el niño, turn it up
El niño, el niño, el niño, no stopping us

It's in your face
One, two, three, four, right

El niño
El fucking niño

07. GOD IS I
ill niño ep
---------------------------------------

I've come to claim my son
I hold the man to god
The pain that you derive
The gods I live a lie
thats just a lie
Painted on your faice
Forever pain

Try me you will die
Die

I am not the best to get on
Let's just get it on
No sas in your defence
Do you like what you've done to me
I look up into the skies
Your nothing but lies

The god is I
I

I'll make you die
The god is I
Nothing but lies
The god is I

Die

You
Fuck you

I've come to claim my son I hold the man to god
The pain that you derive
The gods I live a lie
Painted on your own face
Painted on your fucking face
Forever pain
Try me you'll die
I

Album story: Ill Niño EP (2000)

2000-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Ill Niño EP was recorded in late 2000, after Cristian Machado switched from bassguitar to replace Jorge Rosado on vocals. With original members Marc Rizzo and founding father Dave Chavarri, and the addition of Jardel Paisante on rhythm guitar, Laz Pina on bassguitar and Roger Vasquez on percussion the band was complete. According to Chavarri, the vocals are much stronger now with Cristian Machado as a singer; Ill Niño is now making much better use of melody, Spanish guitars and Latin rhythms. Session member DJ Pookie did the turntables for the album. It would be the only time he would work with Ill Niño, Chavarri: "Pookie was awesome on our EP., but we needed to go in a different direction with the scratches on our new CD. The perfect man for the job turned out to be DJ Skratch. He totally kicked ass on our new recording."

The EP was recorded and mixed at the Hi-Fi Studios in Hoboken, NJ, which is the recording studio of bassist Laz Pina, and the same studio that was later used for the pre-production of Revolution Revolucion. The album was engineered and mixed by drummer Dave Chavarri, with help from Pina. The album was released by C.I.A. Recordings.

The first five songs, "Nothing's Clear", "Disposed", "Rumba", "Fallen", and "Part of the Signs", were all written by Cristian Machado. The last two songs, "El Niño" and "God Is I" were written by ex-vocalist Jorge Rosado, who joined Merauder after he left the band. These two songs are two older songs, when the band was still called El Niño. Ill Niño's roots lay for a huge part in the New York hardcore-scene. Both "El Niño" and "God Is I" contain loads of hardcore influences that are until today still to be found in Merauder's music.

The layout of the EP was done by Zeckle Graphics from Jersey City, NJ. The Ill Niño logo was done by Joe Darone. Photos were taken by Frank White.

The EP got the band signed to Roadrunner Records. Ill Niño enjoyed exposure via the New York metal college radio station WSOU and began to gig heavily, opening for the likes of Kittie, Soulfly, Snapcase, plus a co-headlining set at the March Metal Meltdown festival in New Jersey. Soon after, the sextet signed to Roadrunner Records. Dave Chavarri: "I personally had known Mike Gitter (our A&R) for some time. When I knew I had the right material, I approached Mike with it. He then came to check out our live performance at WSOU's ski show, and shortly after we were signed to Roadrunner. From there, we kept gigging and working our asses off to help create a buzz." Gitter: "So, (...) Chavarri's in my office with a CD in hand. I pop it in and he looks up at me with that shit-eating, Chavarri-I just ate-a-plate of red beans look. It's the "Major Changes" Dave's been talking about. Ill Nino's new demo is awesome: heavy, melodic, charged with great songs and cool Latin vibes. On the scale of good to great, it's 95% of the way to great. They've just played their first gig at the Birch Hill in New Jersey with fellow Vatos Among Thieves in front of nearly 500 fans! A week later, they'll play right under Dave's former bandmate and co-conspirator Billy Milano and his mosh-happy mob, S.O.D., at New Jersey's March Metal Meltdown and simply crush."

Ill Niño EP
Released: 2000
Number of Discs: 1
Label: C.I.A. Recordings
Produced by: Chavarri
© 2000: Ill Niño Music

Tracklist:
01 - Nothing's Clear
02 - Disposed
03 - Rumba
04 - Fallen
05 - Part Of The Signs
06 - El Niño
07 - God Is I