Mandrill - Sol Y Quena [1975 Heavy Metal Hard Prog Bolivia]

EP: Sol Y Quena
Get this comp here: https://aftersabbath.blogspot.com/2023/10/151-Bolivia-60s-70s-Hard-Rock-Psych.html
And on we go on to another of the heavy highlights of this set, fusing Bolivian sounds with the power of proto-metal / prog monsters like Deep Purple. To again quote Julio Cesar Moya - "The origin of this important group dates back to the second half of 1973, when the Salgado brothers, Belizario and René, of the popular group Four Star, and Carlos Salgado, lead guitarist and singer of Blue Star, joined together, with bassist Roberto Ojeda and drummer Rodolfo Aguilar. This gave life to a group whose creation myth revolved around avant-garde, European and North American rock, and the influence and inclination for progressive rock fused with Andean rhythms and melodies, leading to one of the first examples of Heavy Metal in Bolivia, whose main characteristic is the strident and distorted guitar, and a wailing voice."

"Mandrill's impressive first record was presented in a special concert at the Cine Teatro Princesa in La Paz, along with excellent covers of important bands such as Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, Focus & Yes. In an interview, Carlos Salgado says that in live performances he carried a live viper placed round his neck, as part of the intense performance that Mandrill offered the audience."

Mandrill called it a day after their third EP, 1977's "Vol. 2". After that the members continued in tropical music groups such as Orquesta Anaconda, La Banda Del Loco and Marejada. In recent years Carlos Salgado has been active in events to honour bands that he was involved in like Blue Star, Mandrill and Anaconda, playing in a reformed Blue Star, covering Mandrill songs and inviting members of other bands appearing in this comp, Climax, Los Signos & Los Grillos for example, to play at shows with Blue Star. You can see some of this activity on Carlos's facebook (link) and a promotional facebook page of his (link).

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