In the labyrinthine music scene of Istanbul, a city that juggles chaos and charm, Jornada Del Muerto has carved out a niche that’s hard to ignore but not always easy to stomach. Their latest release, “Pinturas Negras,” is a sonic exploration that doesn’t beg for adoration but rather demands a certain resilience to appreciate its depth.
The album, a sophomore effort from this blackened screamo ensemble, draws inspiration from Francisco Goya’s “Black Paintings.” Rather than romanticizing darkness, Jornada Del Muerto dives headfirst into it, crafting a soundscape that mirrors Goya’s haunting imagery with a sound that is as raw as it is refined. It’s not music for the faint-hearted; it’s a soundtrack for those who find beauty in the bleak and the disturbing.
The band, comprising veterans from various influential acts like The Ousted and Burn Her Letters, exhibits a maturity in “Pinturas Negras” that surpasses their debut. Their growth is evident in the intricacy of their arrangements and the precision of their execution. The album’s 14 tracks, each an ode to one of Goya’s paintings, are brief but potent, showcasing the band’s ability to convey intense emotion in compact compositions.
The live version is released by No Heroes Records on cassette and Mevzu Records, which is hosting the live set on their YouTube channel.
The live version of “Pinturas Negras,” recorded at PUR and released both digitally and physically, is a testament to the band’s dedication to their craft. Excluding six atmospheric tracks from the album, the live set focuses on eight pieces performed with an energy that’s both palpable and precise.
It’s a showcase of the band’s skill in translating their studio work into a live setting, a feat not all bands can claim to achieve convincingly.
