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Brujeria

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Masked, Spanish-language deathgrind long assembled from members of other well-known metal bands — cartel imagery and blunt political satire at grindcore speed.

Brujeria formed at a party in 1989, conceived as a grindcore and death metal band representing the Latino and Chicano community; the name comes from brujería, Spanish for witchcraft. The early lineup brought together guitarist Dino Cazares, vocalist Jello Biafra, drummer Pat Hoed, bassist Billy Gould and vocalist Juan Brujo, all working under Spanish pseudonyms that concealed their real identities and ties to other bands.

Members present themselves as drug lords wanted by the FBI, appearing masked in bandanas, balaclavas and serapes and wielding machetes across photos and videos. The band's roster has since cycled through musicians including Raymond Herrera, Nick Barker, Jeff Walker and Shane Embury, changing personnel repeatedly while keeping the disguised concept intact.

Early singles "¡Demoniaco!" (1990) and "Machetazos" (1992) led into the 1993 debut album Matando Güeros, whose cover photo of a severed head became the band's recurring mascot, El Coco Loco. The record's drug and Satanic themes drew partly on the real case of Adolfo Constanzo, a Mexican drug smuggler and cult killer. "El Patrón" followed in 1994 on Jello Biafra's label, Alternative Tentacles.

1995's Raza Odiada is regarded by many fans as the band's strongest record, its single "La Ley De Plomo" reaching late-night MTV rotation. Despite growing popularity, Brujeria declined most offers to play live, preserving the anonymity at the center of the project through releases including the Marijuana EP and the compilation Spanglish 101.

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