Sôber
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Madrid, Spain |
| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
| Products | Alternative rock music albums and singles |
Sôber is a alternative rock group originating from Madrid, Spain, established in 1994. The band was created when Carlos Escobedo placed an advertisement in a local guitar shop, which led to Antonio Bernardini joining and forming what was initially called Sober Stoned. The primary lineup has consistently featured vocalist and bassist Carlos Escobedo alongside guitarists Jorge Escobedo and Antonio Bernardini, while the drummer position has seen several changes. In 2002, with Alberto Madrid on drums, they released the album Paradÿsso, which sold upwards of 100,000 units. Their 2004 release, Reddo, surpassed 50,000 copies sold.
On 1 January 2010, the band declared their reunion, introducing Manu Reyes as their new drummer.
Formation and Beginnings
Founded in Madrid in 1994, Sôber’s inception came about when Carlos Escobedo’s advertisement attracted Antonio Bernardini, leading to the creation of Sober Stoned. The original members included the Escobedo brothers—Carlos handling vocals and bass, Jorge on guitar—together with Bernardini on guitar and Elías Romero on drums. The band's name is inspired by the term "sober" and the track "Sober" by Tool from their album Undertow.
Torcidos Era
Initially performing in English, they produced their first demo titled Mirror’s Way in 1994, consisting of five tracks. After securing a contract with their first record label, they were required to switch to Spanish lyrics. Their debut album Torcidos faced delays due to the label's bankruptcy in 1995 but was eventually released independently through their own label, Sober Records, in 1997.
Morfología Period
Continuing to craft new material including "La Prisión del Placer," which appeared on a Heavy Rock magazine compilation, they gained attention through fan correspondence. They recorded three songs at Rocksoul Studios with self-production alongside Alberto Seara. After submitting demos to various labels, Zero Records signed them in 1998. At this time, they shortened their name from Sober Stoned to Sôber and introduced Luis Miguel Planelló as their new drummer replacing Elías Romero. In September that year, they launched the EP Condenado. Their sophomore album Morfología (1999) included tracks like "Abstinencia," "Loco," "Predicador," and "La Prisión del Placer." Following this recording phase, Alberto Madrid took over drum duties from Planelló.
Synthesis Release
The year 2000 saw the release of the EP Oxígeno (Ô₂), featuring songs that would later be part of their third full-length album, Synthesis. Produced by Oscar Clavel and recorded at Kirios and Eurosonic studios, Synthesis contained tracks such as "Versus (Vs.)," "Si Me Marcho," and "Vacío." It became one of Spain’s best-selling pop rock albums with sales exceeding 30,000 copies. Soon after this release, the band parted ways with Zero Records and signed a deal with Muxxic (Gran Vía Musical).
Paradÿsso Breakthrough
Sôber established themselves within the rock circuit by sharing stages with notable bands like Deftones, HIM, and Dover. Their significant breakthrough occurred following a memorable appearance at the Festimad rock festival. In 2002, after an extensive touring period, they launched their fourth studio album titled Paradÿsso. Songs such as "Diez Años" and "Paradysso" rapidly gained popularity across Spain. The album was recorded at Cube Studios with Alberto Seara engineering and was self-produced by the band to fully express their artistic direction. It earned both Gold and Platinum certifications for selling over 100,000 copies. Subsequently, they embarked on a two-year tour performing more than 100 shows.
Reddo
After releasing Backstage 02/03, which featured three live performances recorded in Salamanca in 2003, Sôber unveiled their fifth studio album titled Reddo, a term meaning "reflection" in Latin. The album was self-produced and recorded at Cube Studios, with mixing handled by Scott Humphrey in Los Angeles, a producer recognized for his collaborations with Bon Jovi and Metallica. Issued in February 2004, the majority of the album's compositions and lyrics were crafted by vocalist and bassist Carlos Escobedo.
Hiatus in 2005
Following more than ten years as a group, the members decided to take a break to explore other musical ventures: Carlos Escobedo joined forces with Alberto Madrid to form Savia, while guitarists Antonio Bernandini and Jorge Escobedo established Skizoo. On 31 October 2005, Universal released a compilation album titled Grandes Éxitos 1994–2004, gathering the band's most notable tracks.
Passing of Alberto Madrid
Tragically, on 30 November 2006, drummer Alberto Madrid lost his life in a car accident on Madrid's M-40 highway.
Reunion in 2010
After nearly six years dedicated to side projects, the band announced their comeback on 1 January 2010, introducing Manu Reyes as their new drummer. They confirmed plans for tours throughout Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Chile.
Band members
- Carlos Escobedo – Vocals / Bass
- Jorge Escobedo – Guitar
- Antonio Bernardini – Guitar
- Manu Reyes – Drums
Former members
- Elías Romero – Drums (1994–1998)
- Luis Miguel Planelló – Drums (1998–1999)
- Alberto Madrid (deceased) – Drums (1999–2005)
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Center | Torcidos (Twisted) | Sober Records |
| Template:Center | Morfología (Morphology) | Zero Records |
| Template:Center | Synthesis | Zero Records |
| Template:Center | Paradÿsso | Muxxic (Gran Via Musical) |
| Template:Center | Backstage 02/03 | Muxxic (Gran Via Musical) |
| Template:Center | Reddo | Muxxic (Gran Via Musical) |
| Template:Center | Grandes Éxitos 1994–2004 (Greatest Hits 1994–2004) | Universal Music Spain |
| Template:Center | De aquí a la eternidad (From Here to Eternity) | Universal Music Spain |
| Template:Center | Superbia | Last Tour Records |
| Template:Center | Letargo (Lethargic) | Warner Music Spain |
| Template:Center | Vulcano | Warner Music Spain |
| Template:Center | La sinfonía del Paradÿsso (Symphony of Paradÿsso) | El Dromedario Records |
| Template:Center | ELEGÍA (Elegy) | El Dromedario Records |
| Template:Center | Retorcidos | El Dromedario Records |
Singles / videos
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Center | Loco (Mad) | Morfología |
| Template:Center | Versus (Vs.) | Synthesis |
| Template:Center | Vacío (Empty) | Synthesis |
| Template:Center | Diez años (Ten Years) | Paradÿsso |
| Template:Center | Eternidad (Eternity) | Paradÿsso |
| Template:Center | Arrepentido (Regretful) | Paradÿsso |
| Template:Center | Paradÿsso | Paradÿsso |
| Template:Center | La nube (The Cloud) | Reddo |
| Template:Center | Cientos de preguntas (Hundreds of Questions) | Reddo |
| Template:Center | El hombre de hielo (The Ice Man) | Reddo |
| Template:Center | Sombras (Shadows) | De aquí a la eternidad |
| Template:Center | Tic-Tac (Tick Tock) | Superbia |
| Template:Center | Náufrago (Castaway) | Superbia |
| Template:Center | La araña (The Spider) | Superbia |
| Template:Center | Una vida por exprimir (One Life to Express) | Promotional single |
| Template:Center | Blancanieve (Snow White) | Letargo |
| Template:Center | Encadenado (Chained) | Letargo |
Appearance in films and video games
- The tracks "Versus (Vs.)" and "Esfera" from the album Synthesis were part of the soundtrack for the Spanish movie School Killer (2001).
- The song "Paradÿsso," taken from the album of the same name, was featured in the Spanish film Cosa de brujas (2003).
- "Cientos de preguntas," included in the album Reddo, was used in the soundtrack for the FIFA 2005 video game.