El Peyote Asesino
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Headquarters | Montevideo , Uruguay |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
El Peyote Asesino is a rock group from Uruguay, established in 1994 in Montevideo's Villa Española district. The ensemble features Fernando Santullo, known as "L. Mental," and Carlos Casacuberta as vocalists, Daniel Benia on bass guitar, Juan Campodónico and Matías Rada handling guitars, Bruno Tortorella on keyboards, and Pepe Canedo playing drums. Their music uniquely fuses elements of heavy metal, funk, and rap, a combination that was distinctive within the Uruguayan rock landscape at that time.
Their initial release came in 1995 with the self-titled album El Peyote Asesino, produced by Gabriel Casacuberta. This debut sold approximately 1,000 units within Montevideo’s underground scene, ultimately becoming the top-selling Uruguayan rock record in early 1996.
In September 1997, the band recorded their sophomore album Terraja at Can Am studios in Los Angeles. Released on 31 August 1998 through Universal Music Group, Terraja preserved their rap metal foundation while integrating influences from electronic music, soul, milonga, candombe, and tango genres. The track "Mal de la Cabeza" stood out prominently. Following this release, the group disbanded temporarily after about one year.
They briefly reunited in 2009 to perform at Montevideo’s Pilsen Rock festival and Teatro de Verano but did not create any new studio recordings during this period.
After a 23-year hiatus from recording, they made a comeback with the 2021 album Serial, which was produced by guitarist Campodónico. Leading up to this album, they released the single "Vos No Me Llamaste" in 2020 and subsequently two more songs, "La Tumba de los Crá" and "Es lo que Hay," in 2021.
Formation and debut period: El Peyote Asesino (1994–1997)
Late in 1994, El Peyote Asesino was founded by Fernando Santullo alongside Juan Campodónico. The original roster consisted of Santullo (under the pseudonym "L. Mental") and Carlos Casacuberta sharing vocal duties, Daniel Benia on bass guitar, Campodónico on guitar, and Roberto Rodino on drums. Their first live show took place on 28 August at the venue "El perro azul." By their second appearance, Pepe Canedo had replaced Rodino on drums while Casacuberta expanded his role to include guitar performance. The band actively engaged in underground events such as La Movida Young Art Meeting. In November 1994, they won the "Generación 95" competition sponsored by Rock de Primera among others, which granted them studio time for recording an album. The recording sessions were conducted between July and October 1995 at Estudio del Cordón with engineer Luis Restuccia.
Their debut album El Peyote Asesino was released in December 1995 via the Orfeo label and became Uruguay’s best-selling rock album during early 1996. Following this success, the group increased their live appearances and were recognized as the "National rock revelation group of 1995" by readers of Rock de Primera magazine. Their first music video for the song "L. Mental" received television exposure. In June of that year, the track "El Peyote Asesino" held the number one position on X FM's top ten chart for two consecutive weeks. August saw them perform in Buenos Aires at the Rojas Cultural Center alongside Molotov and Tintoreros, marking their entry into the Argentine market—a move facilitated by organizer Fabián Jara. Casacuberta remarked on the notably enthusiastic reception from Argentine audiences compared to their home shows in Montevideo.
First Album
Their debut record, El Peyote Asesino, was launched in December 1995 under the Orfeo label, with production handled by Gabriel Casacuberta and Luis Restuccia. Surpassing a thousand units sold, it became the best-selling rock album in Uruguay by early 1996. This success enabled the band to broaden their live appearances beyond Montevideo's underground venues. In January 1996, they produced their initial music video for the track L. Mental, which received extensive airtime on local television. The album's eponymous song, El Peyote Asesino, climbed to number one on X FM within just 18 days.
Terraja
In September, recording sessions for their sophomore album, Terraja, took place at Can Am Recorders in Los Angeles, California—a studio renowned for hosting prominent hip hop and rock artists. Post-recording, the band embarked on a tour across Mexico alongside Molotov and Control Machete. Released in August 1998 throughout Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, and the United States, Terraja marked a significant step in expanding their international footprint. Subsequent performances included shows in Argentina with Molotov, Cypress Hill, Bersuit Vergarabat, and Árbol. Their final concert before entering an extended hiatus was held in Uruguay, featuring Plátano Macho and Molotov.
Reunion and Serial
Ten years after disbanding, the group reunited to perform at the 'Pilsen Rock' festival before an audience of 80,000, followed by additional concerts at Teatro de Verano. In May 2016, they returned for two nights at Teatro de Verano; however, Carlos Casacuberta was absent due to health concerns. Matias Rada and Bruno Tortorella joined as permanent members during this period. In November 2021, they released their third album, Serial, which was written and recorded between 2019 and 2020 in Montevideo. Produced by Juan Campodónico and engineered by Julio Berta, the album contains ten tracks showcasing the band's artistic evolution. Gustavo Santaolalla, who produced Terraja, regarded Serial as their finest work to date.