Ekhymosis

This article is about the Colombian band. For the medical term, see Ecchymosis.
Ekhymosis
Ekhymosis 2015
Background information
Origin Medellín, Colombia
Genres Thrash metal (early and recently)
Rock en Español
Latin pop (nineties)
Years active 1987–1999; 2012-present
Labels Independiente
Website http://ekhymosis.info/
Members Andrés García
Felipe Manrique
Oscar Osorio
Mauricio Estrada
Luis Duqueiro
Past members Juan Esteban Aristizabal
Fernando "Toby" Tobón
José David Lopera

Ekhymosis is a Colombian rock band formed by Juan Esteban "Juanes" Aristizábal Vásquez, along with friends Andrés García, Fernando "Toby" Tobón and José David Lopera from Medellín. The band was created in 1988 with heavy influences from Metallica and other important metal acts of the 80s, as well as some popular Latino music.

Career

Even since their beginning as a metal band, Ekhymosis (a Greek word, meaning "bruise"[1]) showed the same pro-Latino lyrics as Kraken. After some live performances to become known in their city (and more regions of Colombia), the band recorded a demo of two songs, which described the violence in Medellín and the injustice of innocent deaths and other problems in Colombia.[1] The demo sold out (thanks to friends and family of the band), and they decided to record a second.[1] This time Ekhymosis had luck: In the studio was a Codiscos representative; she heard and liked the demo and the band signed with that label.[1]

1993 saw the release of Niño Gigante, a heavy metal album that included one of the band's most well known songs, "Solo".[1] Controversy and the term "sell-out" surrounded the band with their next release: 1994's Ciudad Pacífico, produced by Federico López, a more hard rock-oriented record with more Latin sounds. Ekhymosis was looking for their unique sound; they didn't want to be the "Spanish Metallica". Rather, they wanted to create Colombian rock.

In the following year, 1995, the band with its two new members, released Amor Bilingüe,[1] topping the Colombian charts with the single "De Madrugada". The video of the song had incredible replay value on MTV Latino. The same year, Ekhymosis recorded a rock version of the National Anthem of Colombia, which caused controversy among some, but was well received among Colombian youth.[2] Ekhymosis was the chosen band to open for Bon Jovi in November of that year, but due to the murder of the politician Alvaro Gómez the band decided not to play in order to allow the concert to finish earlier.

The next year, the band released their unplugged album, titled Acústico, and Ekhymosis decided to go to Los Angeles where they played in local pubs and began recording their new album.[1] In 1997, the band, now with four members (Juan Esteban, Andrés, Toby and José) recorded in L.A. their self-titled album, which saw the re-makes of three of their best songs ("Solo", "Sin Rencores", "De Madrugada") and new ones, the most remarkable being "La Tierra", known by some fans as "the second Colombian Anthem".[1] The band was at its peak, but little knew the fans that those were the last days of one of the most important bands in Colombia.[3]

In 1998, Ekhymosis won 3 Shock Awards (Best National Group, Best Song for "La Tierra", and Best Composer for Juan Esteban). Some months later, due to internal problems in deciding the future of the band, Ekhymosis disbanded. Juan Esteban, then, began his solo career as Juanes;[3] the drummer of the band, Jose Lopera, worked with him on his first album,[4] and has continued to work with Juanes to this day;[5] the guitarist of Ekhymosis, Toby, started to play with Juanes on his second album and has continued with Juanes as well.[6][7] Juanes has been known to perform Ekhymosis songs at his concerts, namely "Solo" and "La Tierra".

Reunion

In 2012, the band announced a reunion with new members, in a rendition to their origins as a thrash metal band, and playing their early songs before 1992. This lineup also includes the only remaining member since its beginnings, bassist and former lead guitarist Andrés García.

Members

Current members

Past members


Featured members


Discography

Albums

Year Album
1988 Nunca Nada Nuevo
1989 Desde Arriba Es Diferente
1991 De Rodillas
1993 Niño Gigante
1994 Ciudad Pacífico
1995 Amor Bilingüe
1996 Unplugged (Acústico)
1997 Ekhymosis
2016 Despertar

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "La Historia de Ekhymosis" (Ekhymosis' Story)
  2. ↑ Rockin' Las Américas: The Global Politics of Rock in Latin/o America
  3. 1 2 Ekhymosis review at Allmusic
  4. ↑ Fíjate Bien credits at Allmusic
  5. ↑ Un Día Normal credits at Allmusic
  6. ↑ Mi Sangre credits at Allmusic
  7. ↑ P.A.R.C.E. credits at Allmusic

External links

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