Style: power/prog (mixed vocals)
Review by: Andy
Country: Cuba
Release date: 1 March, 2022
Here’s some free advice: If you want people to find your new band, don’t name them a common word. Cuban power/prog band Bonus do not follow that seemingly intuitive advice, making their search up-ability practically zero on Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube. Consequently, Bonus have no more than twelve monthly listeners at the time of writing this review. Even the novelty of hailing from a country not known for metal hasn’t boosted their listeners by much (or maybe it has by at least 9 percent since that’s why I initially listened as their twelfth listener?). Barring their inability to be found with streaming search engines, does anything else provide a clue as to why the band has fewer than a baker’s dozen monthly listeners?
Starting the album with a classic power/prog riff in the Pagan’s Mind school, “Equinoccio Total” grooves its way through catchy Spanish choruses (more bands ought to sing in their native languages) and some serious instrumental chops. As things should be in good power/prog, the solos shred, and the bass is audible in the mix. However, the main problem throughout the album begins less than a minute into the first track: Harsh vocals do not belong in power metal albums not called Ascension by Paladin. I listen to power metal for cheerful soundscapes, and harsh vocals that are as cheesy as those by Bloodywood take me right out of that classic power/prog atmosphere provided by the bright guitar riffs and (unfortunately so) plastic synths. Second track “A Tiempo” at least provides a thrashier tempo that somewhat provides a reason for the harsh vocals’ usage, yet even throughout the more aggressive track I would prefer solely the female cleans contrasted with the gruffer male ones.
In addition to my gripes about some of the vocal choices, Pablo Abreu Ramirez’s drumming sounds like the band invited Lars Ulrich himself to play in the studio, the rad, reasonably complex songs hindered by overly simplistic and super repetitive drum patterns. Therein lies the overall problem with Disyuntiva: Despite clearly having the skill to play enjoyable power/prog, the performances feel restrained. Album closer and highlight, “La Dama y la Cruz” features operatic, Nightwish-core vocals that sound full of passion, but the laid back, lower pitch singing that preceded it seems a little lackluster in comparison. Even in other strong tracks like “El Salto,” featuring a chorus that has been bouncing around my head for days, the vocals seem slightly restrained. Furthermore, the production, while serviceable, does not do the band many favors as everything sounds a little bit tinny, especially the cheap synths. The only exceptional performance across the album is by Eduardo Alanso, the lead guitarist who rips catchy riffs and melodic power metal solos.
Unfortunately, despite the strength of the riffs, they follow the lead of the drums, verging on overly repetitious. Nearly every song starts super strong, but after the umpteenth time playing through practically the same main riff, it gets a tad boring and formulaic even when broken up by predictably placed (but awesome) solos and non-varied (but infectious) choruses. The only song that even signficantly changes up the pace, let alone the strophic structures, is prog metal instrumental “Palabras Dichas,” which sounds like an Animals as Leaders track with weaker technical ability.
Despite my criticisms, Disyuntiva is an easy listen and a fun romp through the power/prog underground. Channeling some of the band’s clear penchant for riff-making and strong vocal talents into a more diverse package will undoubtedly result in a banging sophomore album, but as Disyuntiva stands, the only tracks I feel are worth returning to have few harsh vocals and only the catchiest of the choruses since too many other bands do the remaining elements better. Bonus have all the talent they need to succeed, though. And oh yeah, Bonus, maybe consider renaming the band before a follow up release.
Recommended tracks: Equinoccio Total, El Salto, La Dama y la Cruz
Recommended for fans of: Pagan’s Mind, Unleash the Archers
You may also like: Paladin, Andromeda, Chaos Frame, Ulth∆r
Final verdict: 4/10
Related links: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Bonus is:
– Yanairis Fernández (vocals)
– David Orion (guitars)
– Frank Ramos (bass)
– Pablo Abreu Ramirez (drums)
– Eduardo Alonso (lead guitars)
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