CLIMAX - Heavy Prog • Bolivia

Climax biography (http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4029)

Painfully obscure trio from Bolivia that made a bold, raucous but jazzy and deceptively simple heavy prog during the early 1970's. The band formed in 1969 (or possibly even '68) and was constituted by guitarist/keyboardist/singer Jose EUGENIO, drummer Alvaro CORDOVA, and Javier SOLDIAS on bajo [a 12-string bass/guitar]. They recorded throughout the early '70s but no official album was released until 1974's 'Gusano Mecanico' on Discolandia. On the surface the material may remind more of hard rocking cousins Zeppelin or Jimi Hendrix than anything Prog but the jazz elements, sense of experimentation, and clear influence from ELP and PINK FLOYD on certain cuts - as the three-part title on the '74 LP - leave very few doubts this is a vintage Heavy Prog band worth its salt.

The Bolivian Power Trio formed in the late 60's, Climax released only one album in the year 1974 with 6 tracks that was recently reissued with another 8 bonus tracks, with covers by Cream, Hendrix and Steppenwolf. The band brings not only the best example of Bolivian rock of the time, but also one of the best hard rock / progressive albums coming from South America in the 70's! Listening to the mechanical worm one can notice a great influence of the three bands mentioned above and others like Santana and Pink Floyd. The sound is based on hard rock, but it has progressive and psychedelic passages too, the songs are all in Spanish. The three musicians work very well, but the main highlight goes to the guitar that brings matador solos.

Gusano Mecanico 1974

-----------------------------------

More Latin Psych Blues Rock

Santana - Latin Rock

Abraxas Pool - Latin Rock