But to metal diehards, Spain’s 80s scene is still worth checking out. There was also a sense of self-deprecation, with many “heavys” disliking their national scene and opting to just listen to bands from abroad. There are many reasons for this, starting with the fact nearly all the bands sang in Spanish to the fact many bands lacked the musical infrastructure to gain wide distribution and tour internationally – unlike the UK, Germany or Sweden. In the context of the larger metal scene, Spanish metal never caught on in a significant manner. Many Spanish metal releases were published by this label. The other was Chapa Discos, a label set up by Vicente Ramón “Mariscal”, a journalist and producer that established it in the late 70s to release albums by the likes of Topo or Asfalto. Spanish heavy metal had two important epicentres: one was in Vallecas, a traditionally poor neighbourhood in Madrid. Like their rock urbano peers, working class metalheads had no reservations about expressing their frustration at the state of la transición.

Yet metal of the time also dealt with the political climate of the time. Lyrical content was monothematic songs revolved around the hardships of day to day life and love for rock/drinking/women. Spanish metal was proudly working class in its demeanor. With the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) being all the rage in the European continent, these sounds made their way over to Spain which inspired a new generation of bands to take up the mantle of heavy metal. Popular names included La Polla Records, Hertzainak or Eskorbuto. This environment is what gave birth to Rock Radical Vasco (Basque Radical Rock) – a loose coalition of punk, hard rock and even some metal bands. Drug abuse exploded (mainly heroin) and the Basque terrorist group ETA became more active, killing 93 people in 1980 alone. The region, always a stronghold for Spanish industry and manufacturing was undergoing the same problems the UK and US were with deindustrialization – leaving many unemployed in its wake. Up North, trouble was also brewing with the Basques. Bands in this sphere included Medina Azahara, Triana, Mezquita and Alameda. The latter was a variant of prog rock, strongly influenced by the region’s penchant for flamenco and with symphonic touches. Rock Urbano’s sound was characterized by an adherence to 70s hard rock but lacking the bluesy elements, which gave it a much harsher and “street” sound. The former comprised bands like Asfalto, Topo and Leño to name a few. Two of the biggest ones were Rock Urbano Español and the Andalucian progressive scene. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were just as big as anywhere else and Spain actually developed a number of musical movements prior to the emergence of metal in the country. While Spain under Franco was certainly repressive, it doesn’t mean it was shut off from the world. Parallel to the movida, a new movement was also emerging in the working class neighbourhoods – one with more a metallic and rougher sound. The movida was undoubtedly a repudiation of the old social conservative values that had governed Spain, but was also a movement primarily for the Spanish middle class who enjoyed these new artists with a good dose of drug consumption and open sexual attitudes. La Movida was a countercultural movement largely concentrated in Madrid which consisted of new artists bringing in popular foreign sounds of the time – pop, new wave, post-punk, etc. The abolishment of religious censorship brought about a new wave of artistic freedom, resulting in what is known as “La Movida”. All of these are still ever-present issues in Spanish society.įranco’s passing did not just transform Spain politically, but also socially. “La transición” as it’s often referred to, left many wounds open the victims of the Civil War and the post-war years, the impunity many of Franco’s ex-ministers gained and regional tensions to name a few. Of course, things are never so simple – particularly with a country that had such a sordid past. This was a watershed moment for Spaniards, long treated as second class citizens in the continent and one which brought optimism for what the future would bring.

Throughout the course of the 1980s, the country did just that – first by being classified as a high income nation by the World Bank in 1982 and joining the European Union in 1986. With the signing of the Constitution in 1978, Spain looked to leave its past behind and to settle in again as a respected West European nation. From 1939 until Franco’s death in 1975, Spain remained somewhat of a pariah on the international stage – an ally the West reluctantly accepted in the Cold War versus the Soviet Union. Once a dominant European power, it had been reduced to a fringe nation mired by poverty and class divisions which eventually culminated in a bloody civil war in 1936. To say the 20 th Century was difficult for Spain may be an understatement.

Power metal rapidcomposer