Eternamiente [PA] (CD - 2007)

Recording information: Estudios Topetitud Mexico, DF.

Purported to be Molotov's final studio album, 2007's ETERNAMIENTE finds the eclectic and inventive Rock en Espanol band offering up a restless and dynamic outing. From the driving opener, "No Deje Que," to the funky, new-wave leaning "DDT," to the rap-tinged "Guacala Que Rico," the revered Mexico City quartet stays true to its anything-goes aesthetic, resulting in a fascinating whirlwind of styles and sounds.

Molotov announced their separation in 2007, citing creative differences and industry conflicts, but the four-piece rock en español band didn't stop recording. They wrote and recorded new material independent of one another, before reuniting for a supporting tour of this new music. The resulting album, Eternamiente, is unusual in the sense that it's comprised of four mini-EPs (Hasta la Basura Se Separa, El Plan de Ayala, Sin Titolo, and Miss Canciones), each attributed to one of the members (Miguel Angel Huidobro, Paco Ayala, Tito Fuentes, and Randy Ebright, respectively). It's kind of like the four separate, simultaneously released Kiss solo albums from 1978 (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss), except these four-track EPs were released simultaneously via iTunes, each with its own corresponding cover art, and later compiled onto a single CD, Eternamiente. The respective EPs are sequenced one after the other, and it's curious to note the differences in style between them; for example, Hasta la Basura Se Separa is ripping hardcore punk-style thrash-metal, whereas Miss Canciones is bilingual rap-metal. Fans should enjoy Eternamiente because it showcases the individual personalities that make the band what it is. But anyone who isn't already a fan should favor one of Molotov's earlier albums, which are more characteristic of the band as a whole and better overall listens. Recommendations include ¿Dónde Jugarán las Niñas? (1997), Apocalypshit (1999), and Dance and Dense Denso (2003). ~ Jason Birchmeier minimize