– The Darkstar Calling is the brainchild of Mexican composer and multi-instrumentalist Mario del Río. Drawing from his over twenty years of musical creativity, in which he has alternated between hard rock/heavy metal and acoustic/folk projects, Mario has created a peculiar musical and lyrical experience that he has come to refer to as “post-apocalyptic rock” –
These are the words you read on the band’s FB page and these words are inviting you to their latest ‘The Wasteland Wanderer’ EP which includes 5 dusty narrations over the deserts’ introspections. The record is an essay on the sounds and the musical approach with all the passions of that late term we use often “post apocalyptic rock music”. It was all sired in the deserts of the world and as we speak about a band from N.America, please consider the musical winds from the deserts of Mexico, the spells from the Californian desert, and the abandoned “dangers” of Colorado as they were initially presented by the early Woven Hand. This is all about a pretty nice desert-rock little album. The Darkstar Calling comprises of Mario Del Rio – vocals, guitar, and programming, Gabriela Méndez – guitar, Kali Burton – bass, and Ignacio Andrés – on drums, a very well tuned gang.
Expect to find melodic rock music blended with some southern gothic rock elements and an honest darkwave wing above all tracks of ‘The Wasteland Wanderer’. The whole record is not any ‘Murder Ballads’ new episode but mostly a really nice road-trip in the desert, darkened a bit, with very good music by a band which is obviously skilled and clearly sounding not as the session musicians of Mario del Rio. They are friends, they are a band with the same individual questions and likes in their common musical meandering. ‘To Lose Something‘ is the leading track of the album and a very good example of their intentions!
But they also reveal a bit more of a groovy side like in ‘Shadow Of Your Love’!
Generally speaking now, the debut release of TDC is a creative one. They didn’t stick on only one style but they sound like they hide a restlessness inside that I believe in their next release will be way more exposed, and I honestly found the real rock and roll “nobility” in their debut. A bit shy in their arrangements, not so shy in their performace and the production. A very good start from our Mexican friends and here is their debut, shout welcome to the gang, they are good!
Keep Up With The Darkstar Calling
Written by Mike D.
