Mauricio Guerrero, a name that might ring unfamiliar to some, has been making waves in the music industry with his recent releases. The Peruvian stoner-doom band Illwind, featuring Guerrero's lead guitar, dropped their debut album, 'The Unfolding at the End of Light', in early July, and it didn't take long for critics to take notice. Now, just two months later, Guerrero is back with another stoner/doom debut, 'Argul's Soledad & Orgullo', or as it's commonly known, 'Solitude & Pride'. This album, a collaboration with Jose María Venturi, showcases Guerrero's versatility and talent as a musician. With the addition of Peruvian scene veterans Jian Holmes on bass and Alonso Guerrero on drums, the band's lineup is complete.
The album's cover art, with its sylvan visual aesthetics, hints at the band's primary influence: early Black Sabbath. However, 'Solitude & Pride' is more closely related to the tones and riff-work of 'Master of Reality'. Guerrero and Venturi's guitar lines are dark, slow, and bluesy, with occasional livelier boogies that get the head bopping. The album's production is spaciously organic, with a well-curated live band feel, and the interplay between the guitars, Holmes' exploratory bass runs, and the backbeat drumming is refreshing.
Vocally, Guerrero and Venturi avoid the bombast and coarseness often found in doom and stoner metal. Instead, they utilize ethereal lilts, frequently harmonizing with one another. This approach reminds me of bands like Windhand and REZN, who create ghostly atmospheres through their singing, emphasizing the somber, resigned aesthetics of the genre. While the vocals are enchanting, they could be more memorable, and the occasional sound clip takes the listener out of the album's aura.
'Solitude & Pride' can be divided into stronger and weaker tracks. The epic opener, 'Ritual', is a strong contender, with an instantly striking descent that harmonizes to Pallbearian heights. 'Hor Hodin', a shorter track, also triumphs, developing delectable Iommian shuffles. However, 'Engendro' and the closer 'Animal Dog' are weaker tracks, though they aren't bad by any means. The album's songcraft can be overdone at times, with 'Animal Dog' dragging in certain sections. Despite this, the album runs for a reasonable 31 minutes, with a bonus track, 'Kamog', adding a whopping 15 minutes to the runtime.
In conclusion, 'Solitude & Pride' is a solid stoner-doom offering from Mauricio Guerrero and his band Argul. The duo's talent for dressing irresistible riffs in morose guitar melodies and gossamer vocal harmonies is evident. While the songwriting has its hit-and-miss moments, the album possesses a captivating sound out of the gate, boding well for the future. Fans of doom and stoner metal should certainly sample this debut, as it showcases Guerrero's versatility and talent as a musician.
