I’m honestly not even sure where to begin when it comes to describing this album. One thing’s for certain—Alcoholic Rites have seriously leveled up since their Metal Alcoholico EP back in 2008. When I first started listening to this full-length, I wasn’t expecting to be met with a recording of this caliber. What we have here is something far classier than anticipated. The label? One of my personal favorites—Iron Bonehead. Country of origin? Ecuador. Album title? Alkomanifesto. And from that alone, you probably have a pretty solid idea of what’s going on here. Thirteen tracks crammed into less than half an hour, packed with a sound and attitude that—in my opinion—makes this release a serious contender for cult status in the future.
When you look at Alcoholic Rites, the musicianship isn’t exactly jaw-dropping, but man, do these guys rip. While you could slot them under a Speed/Black/Thrash tag, the truth is there’s a bit of everything in the mix. One moment you’re hit with evil ‘80s speed metal riffs, and the next you’re thrown into something that could easily be mistaken for Sarcofago. Especially during the blast-beaten, full-throttle segments, it really does give off that Sarcofago vibe. There are Motörhead-style moments sprinkled in as well, but overall it’s a swirling tribute to the raw energy of ‘80s legends like Sodom, Kreator, Running Wild, and Exciter—loaded with spasmodic speed drumming, feral thrashy blackened vocals, dirty, squealing speed metal solos, and pounding, chaotic snares that reek of South American savagery.
It’s nonstop—the tempos shift frequently and with zero restraint. It’s a full-body adrenaline rush; these guys have practically written the manifesto of alcoholism through music. So go on, stock your fridge with something red, crank this record up, drink, listen—and feel good.