Origin:	Berkeley, CA, USA
Genres:

Flametal

Here we have something pretty unique. The style of this band is a blending of flamenco and metal (hence the name Flametal) -- while it's not new for bands to incorporate non-metal influences, flamenco metal is a true rarity. The band has released two albums as of this writing, with the album reviewed here being the debut, The Elder. The majority of songs on display are instrumental and really highlight the flamenco side of the band (Ben Woods is quite accomplished as a flamenco guitarist), though on the other end of the spectrum is "Red Cobblestones", a straight doom song that seems a bit out of place here. Overall, opinions on this band are quite divided. Some think the band is a bit on the gimmicky side, others believe the integration of flamenco and metal isn't what it could or should be, and some just aren't down with the band at all, while others find the style original and fresh. To these ears, they are quite original, and the only gimmicky element is the band name itself. The album isn't perfect (for one, the production is a bit thin), but it's a pretty interesting listen. Certainly a band that the more adventurous metal fan could give a spin.