RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Incorporating More Metal Elements On Upcoming Album

Rodrigo Sanchez, one half of RODRIGO Y GABRIELA — the dynamic Mexican duo who became international world-music superstars with their self-titled album of aggressive acoustic guitars and irresistible Latin rhythms — has told the Miami New Times that the group's new album will see RODRIGO Y GABRIELA getting back to its roots by incorporating more metal and rock elements.

"Now we feel free to do whatever we like," Sanchez enthuses about the act's new direction. "It's naturally coming back to the rock. The metal thing hasn't ever really left our sound, but the music we're working on for the new album — without a second thought — sounds more like metal, with hints of Latin music. It's the other way around. It probably won't be successful, but who cares? We feel we'll be closer to what we truly are."

Returning to their rock roots is also part of the personal growth the pair has experienced through the whirlwind success of the past couple of years. "I've learned how not to give a lot of value to things that aren't worth it," Sanchez notes. "I don't look at the reviews, and I don't get involved in the industry. I stopped being obsessive and got older and more mature — let's just say older. I'm just trying to enjoy it."

Read the entire interview from the Miami New Times.

Video footage of RODRIGO Y GABRIELA performing a cover of METALLICA's "Orion" can be viewed below. The song is included on RODRIGO & GABRIELA's latest self-titled album, which came out in March 2006 via Rubyworks Records.

"Rodrigo y Gabriela" was produced by John Leckie (MUSE, RADIOHEAD, MY MORNING JACKET) and the artistes themselves. It was recorded in the U.K. in the late summer of 2005, and features nine new tracks — seven RODRIGO & GABRIELA originals and two covers: METALLICA's "Orion" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway to Heaven". All the instrumentation on the album comes from RODRIGO Y GABRIELA's guitars, with the exception of guest gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos, who contributes a blistering solo to "Ixtapa".

Natives of Mexico City, Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero began their careers as members of TIERRA ACIDA, a heavy metal band which played on the city's underground gig circuit for seven years.

"Like a lot of Mexican youth, we were heavily influenced by American metal bands — METALLICA, MEGADETH, PANTERA, and also SEPULTURA," Gabriela explained. "It was a full band, very loud, and for vocals, Rodrigo would just scream. We played this way for seven years."

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA performing a cover of METALLICA's "Orion" in 2007:

Watch video footage of TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick performing with RODRIGO Y GABRIELA at the Webster Hall in New York City on April 16, 2007: