Brujeria (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Dino Cazares, Pat Hoed, Billy Gould, Juan Brujo, Jello Biafra |
| Fate | Active |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Juan Brujo (vocals), Pat Hoed (vocals), Shane Embury (guitar), Jeff Walker (bass), Dino Cazares (guitar) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Brujeria () is an American extreme metal ensemble established in Los Angeles, California, in 1989. The group performs primarily in Spanish, exploring themes such as Satanism, anti-Christianity, sexuality, immigration, narcotics smuggling, and political issues. The band's identity is strongly tied to Mexican cultural symbols, reflecting the Hispanic and Latino heritage of several members. Their name is derived from the Spanish term brujería, meaning "witchcraft."
Among the band's notable contributors are Raymond Herrera, Billy Gould, Nick Barker, Jeff Walker, and Shane Embury. Members adopt aliases and portray themselves as a collective of Latino drug lords, maintaining anonymity reportedly due to FBI scrutiny. During interviews and performances, they conceal their faces with bandanas, balaclavas, and serapes, often brandishing machetes.
Formation and initial releases (1989–1992)
Brujeria originated in 1989 with the goal of creating a grindcore and death metal band that would represent the Latino/Chicano community. The founding lineup included guitarist Dino Cazares, drummer Pat Hoed, bassist Billy Gould, vocalist Juan Brujo, and Jello Biafra. Due to their commitments to other musical projects, all members performed under pseudonyms.
Their debut single, "¡Demoniaco!", was issued in 1990. By 1992, "Machetazos" marked a shift in personnel: Jello Biafra departed and was succeeded by vocalist Pinche Peach; Raymond Herrera assumed drumming duties while Pat Hoed transitioned to a secondary vocal role. Both "Machetazos" and the subsequent album El Patrón (1994) were released through Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles label.
The band attracted criticism for lyrical content centered on narcotics, sexuality, and Satanism, drawing inspiration from notorious Cuban-American drug trafficker and serial killer Adolfo Constanzo.
Matando Güeros and ensuing controversy (1993–1994)
The release of their first full-length album, Matando Güeros (1993), generated significant controversy due to its cover art depicting a severed head—an image that evolved into the mascot known as Coco Loco. This graphic originated from a Mexican magazine portraying a drug dealer. Around this time, Shane Embury joined Brujeria as a guitarist and bassist.
Raza Odiada, Marijuana, and Spanglish 101 (1995–1999)
Brujeria’s sophomore album Raza Odiada appeared in 1995 and is widely regarded as their finest effort. It featured the single "La Ley De Plomo", whose music video received rotation on MTV’s heavy metal programming.
Despite increasing recognition, the band preserved their secrecy and rarely engaged in live performances. In 1997, they released the EP Marijuana, which included a satirical rendition of "The Macarena" on its cover alongside live recordings from their inaugural concert.
In 1999, Brujeria contributed new songs "Marcha de Odio" and "Don Quijote Marijuana" to the compilation Spanglish 101, which protested the dominance of English language media. Notably, "Don Quijote Marijuana" featured a techno-dance style that diverged from their typical heavy metal sound.
Commercial achievements with Brujerizmo and Mextremist Hits! (2000–2001)
After a five-year gap since their last full-length album, Brujeria released Brujerizmo in 2000, introducing Nick Barker as an additional drummer, Jesse Pintado handling guitar duties, and Gaby Dominguez performing as "Pititis," the female demon vocalist.
The 2001 release of the compilation Mextremist! Greatest Hits comprised a selection of classic songs, alternative takes, remixes, a multimedia video track, and fresh collaborations including Mucho Muchacho on "Narco-Peda" and Tony Campos from Static-X contributing on "Asesino." Rather than a conventional greatest hits collection, it mainly gathered rare tracks and B-sides from various EPs and singles. Additionally, the album featured a video cover of Magazine 60’s "Don Quichotte," reimagined as "Don Quijote Marihuana."
Hiatus and side ventures (2002–2006)
Plans for a fourth studio album were abandoned in 2002 due to disagreements between Dino Cazares and Raymond Herrera during Fear Factory’s temporary disbandment. That same year, Herrera exited Brujeria prior to Fear Factory’s reformation without Cazares. The band then concentrated on side projects, most notably Asesino, which released Corridos de Muerte featuring Tony Campos and Emilio Marquez.
A DVD entitled "Permission of Satan," produced by Juan Brujo and Henry, captured the recording sessions of the Asesino album along with early Brujeria tours. It included appearances from Jason Acuña ("Wee Man") and other contributors. This self-produced DVD was distributed directly by Juan Brujo.
Although Brujeria initially refrained from live performances, they played at Whisky a Go Go in 1997; this show was later included as a B-side on the Marijuana EP. Their first official concert took place in Chicago on October 2, 2003, kicking off The Mexecutioner Tour which concluded in Guadalajara in January 2004. That year saw Roadrunner Records issue The Mexecutioner! - The Best of Brujeria, motivating the band—now featuring Nick Barker on drums—to actively engage in interviews and live shows. The following "Tour II" commenced in February 2004 in Mexicali, marking Pititis’s debut as a live vocalist and including performances in Brazil and Argentina before wrapping up in Buenos Aires that August.
Afterwards, Brujeria stepped back from touring amid uncertainty about their direction. Significant members like Dino Cazares left following conflicts with frontman Juan Brujo. In a 2011 interview, Fantasma revealed that Cazares’s involvement in the 2005 Roadrunner United project—which caused the cancellation of a major festival appearance—negatively impacted the band’s standing.
In 2006, Brujeria issued The Singles, compiling their EPs and singles catalog once again, while embarking on the international "No Seas Pendejo Tour." Beginning January 28 in Buenos Aires with new additions Tony Laureano (drums) and Jeff Walker (bass), alongside Shane Embury shifting to guitar, the tour included their European debut at Spain’s Viña Rock festival and concluded on August 6 in Houston. A shorter Spanish tour followed in September—the "Don Quijote Marijuana Tour"—featuring Patrik Jensen on guitar and Adrian Erlandsson on drums.
Reunion, Pocho Aztlan, Esto Es Brujeria and deaths (2007–present)
Following a period of inactivity and internal challenges, Brujeria regrouped in 2007 featuring Juan Brujo on vocals, Pat Hoed providing additional vocals, Jeff Walker on bass, Shane Embury handling guitar duties, and Adrian Erlandsson on drums. They launched the "Weapon of Change Tour," performing from February through December across Europe, the Americas, and Mexico. In 2008, their European tour continued with appearances at festivals such as SWR MetalFest XI in Portugal, Viña Rock in Spain, and Kobetasonik in the Basque Country. Later that year, they initiated the "Accept No Imitations Tour" and made an appearance at the Maryland Death Fest in 2012.
During 2007 and 2008, Brujeria maintained an extensive touring schedule. By June 2009, bassist Shane Embury revealed intentions to produce a fourth studio album, potentially through self-release. In October 2014, the band signed with Nuclear Blast for an album planned for 2015. On July 1, 2016, Brujeria announced their fourth studio release, Pocho Aztlan, which was ultimately launched on September 16. This marked their first album in sixteen years and introduced new members Hongo Jr., El Cynico, El Sangron, and Cuernito.
Following the release of Pocho Aztlan, Brujeria resumed frequent touring and issued several singles including two politically charged anti-Trump songs: "Viva Presidente Trump!" (2016) and "Amaricon Czar" (2019), as well as "Covid-666" in 2020. By February 2022, the band was engaged in creating new material. On July 14, 2023, they unveiled "Mochado," the lead single from their album Esto Es Brujeria, which was released on September 15.
Pinche Peach passed away from heart failure on July 17, 2024, at age 57. Subsequently, on September 18, 2024, it was announced that Juan Brujo had died at age 61 due to a heart attack suffered two days prior while off tour with Gwar. Despite these losses, the band has continued to operate.
Current
- Fantasma (Pat Hoed) – bass, vocals, drums
- Hongo (Shane Embury) – guitars, bass, drums
- El Sangrón (Henry Sanchez) – vocals
- El Criminal (Anton Reisenegger) – guitars, backing vocals
- La Bruja Encabronada (Jessica Pimentel) – vocals
- Zangano (Sergio Lopez) – bass
- El Sativo (John Christopher Lepe) – drums
Former
- Juan Brujo (John David Lepe) – lead vocals
- Asesino (Dino Cazares) – guitars
- Güero Sin Fe (Billy Gould) – bass, guitar
- Hozicón Jr. (Jello Biafra) – additional vocals
- Pinche Peach (Ciriaco Quezada) – samples, vocals
- Greñudo (Raymond Herrera) – drums
- El Embrujado (Patrik Jensen) – guitars
- Cristo de Pisto (Jesse Pintado) – guitars
- Maldito X (Tony Campos) – vocals
- Hongo Jr. (Nick Barker) – drums
- Pititis (Gaby Dominguez) – vocals, guitar
- El Sadistico (Emilio Márquez) – drums
- El Cynico (Jeff Walker) – bass, guitars, vocals
- El Angelito (Tony Laureano) – drums
- El Podrido (Adrian Erlandsson) – drums
- El Clavador (Daniel Erlandsson) – drums
Full-length albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Matando Güeros | Roadrunner | CD |
|
| 1995 | Raza Odiada | Roadrunner | CD | |
| 2000 | Brujerizmo | Roadrunner | CD | Last album featuring original members Asesino and Güero Sin Fe. |
| 2016 | Pocho Aztlan | Nuclear Blast | CD | First Nuclear Blast release and first album after a sixteen-year hiatus; introduced El Cynico on bass; released September 16. |
| 2023 | Esto Es Brujeria | Nuclear Blast | CD | Final album including founding vocalist Juan Brujo before his death in 2024. |
Singles and EPs
- 1990 - ¡Demoniaco! (Nemesis Records)
- 1992 - ¡Machetazos! (Alternative Tentacles)
- 1994 - El Patrón (Alternative Tentacles)
- 2000 - Marijuana (Kool Arrow Records)
- 2008 - Debilador (Self-released)
- 2009 - No Aceptan Imitaciones (Self-released)
- 2010 - California Uber Aztlan (Self-released)
- 2014 - Angel Chilango (Self-released)
- 2016 - Viva Presidente Trump! (Nuclear Blast)
- 2019 - Amaricon Czar (Nuclear Blast)
- 2020 - COVID-666 (Nuclear Blast)
- 2023 - Mochado (Nuclear Blast)
Compilation albums
- 1994 - Best of Grindcore and Destruction (Priority Records)
- 1996 - At Deaths Door II
- 1999 - Spanglish 101 (Kool Arrow Records)
- 2001 - Mextremist! Greatest Hits (Kool Arrow Records)
- 2003 - The Mexecutioner! - The Best of Brujeria (Roadrunner Records)
- 2006 - The Singles