A.N.I.M.A.L.

Lore & Background

The band started as Animal in 1991 with Andrés Gimenez, Roberto Zelasek, and Anibal Alo. After Zelasek left, they changed the name to A.N.I.M.A.L. for legal reasons. Marcelo Corvalán joined as bassist, and they released a self-titled debut album in 1993, a raw and aggressive blend of groove/thrash metal with hardcore punk elements. Early shows included opening for Biohazard, Bad Religion, and Pantera at Obras Sanitarias in Buenos Aires. Drummer changes led to Martín Carrizo joining in 1994, and the album Fin De Un Mundo Enfermo marked a shift toward groove and thrash metal, beginning their rise to fame.

Reader's Guide

A.N.I.M.A.L. gained mainstream success in the mid-to-late 1990s with albums like Poder Latino and Usa Toda Tu Fuerza, which embraced nu metal influences. They headlined major shows in Buenos Aires, including a concert at Buenos Aires Vivo in front of 35,000 people. The band toured the United States as part of the Warped Tour in 2000 and opened for Slipknot in 2005. Their final album before hiatus, Combativo (2004), fully embraced nu metal. After an indefinite break in 2006, the band reunited in 2015 with the Animal 6 lineup and continues to perform. Their legacy lies in blending heavy metal with social commentary on indigenous issues, influencing Latin American metal and gaining international recognition.

Did You Know?

• Their album Poder Latino was produced by Max Cavalera and featured guest musicians including Robert Trujillo and Christian Olde Wolbers.
• The band's 2002 album Animal 6 is considered their heaviest and most brutal release.

Identity, Name & Lyrical Mission

The band's full name, Acosados Nuestros Indios Murieron Al Luchar, translates to "Harassed, Our Indians Died While Fighting" — a declaration that frames everything they do. Formed in Buenos Aires, A.N.I.M.A.L. built their identity around amplifying the struggles of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities across Latin America. Tracks like "Sólo Por Ser Indios," "Guerra De Razas," "Poder Latino," and "Raza Castigada" make that commitment unmistakable. Musically, they fused thrash, groove, and nu metal into a distinctive Argentine sound. What began as a straightforward heavy metal project with mild grunge touches on their self-titled debut gradually transformed. By the mid-1990s, the arrival of drummer Martín Carrizo and the release of Fin De Un Mundo Enfermo marked a sharp pivot toward the groove and thrash aesthetics of Pantera, Sepultura, and Biohazard, setting the stage for the band's commercial ascent.

The Mainstream Breakthrough (1996–2000)

The period from 1996 to 2000 represents A.N.I.M.A.L.'s commercial peak. Recording in Los Angeles, El Nuevo Camino Del Hombre brought a heavier yet more melodic approach, incorporating drop C tuning, five-string bass, clean vocal harmonies, and even a rap-metal track called "Chalito." The following year, Poder Latino — produced by Max Cavalera at Indigo Ranch — is widely regarded by fans as their finest work. Its sound leaned heavily into the emerging nu metal scene, with bouncing riffs, rap verses, and drop A tuning, while featuring guest appearances from Robert Trujillo, Christian Olde Wolbers, and Argentine folk artists Leon Gieco and Chango Farias Gomez. The band headlined Buenos Aires Vivo before 35,000 fans and played the Velodromo for 15,000. In 1999, Usa Toda Tu Fuerza pushed further into nu metal and included a Spanglish cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" featuring Lemmy Kilmister.

Toured the World & Opened for Giants

A.N.I.M.A.L.'s touring résumé reads like a who's-who of global rock and metal. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, they crisscrossed Latin America, the United States, and Europe, sharing bills with Pantera, Biohazard, Bad Religion, Ratos de Porão, Suicidal Tendencies, Sepultura, Soulfly, Megadeth, and Slipknot. Early on, they opened for Biohazard and Bad Religion at the Obras Sanitarias arena in Buenos Aires, then Pantera at the same venue. As their profile grew, they supported Sepultura during the Roots tour and, in 2005, opened two Slipknot dates at Obras Sanitarias on September 29 and 30. That October, they headlined the indoor stage at Pepsi Music 2005 to a sold-out crowd, with Megadeth on the outdoor stage. In 2000, they joined the Warped Tour in the United States alongside Green Day, No Doubt, NOFX, Papa Roach, and Millencolin, before returning home to sell out every stop on a national tour.

Final Years, Line-Up Turmoil & Hiatus

The years between 2000 and 2006 were marked by constant personnel shifts. Longtime bassist Marcelo "Corvata" Corvalán and drummer Andrés Vilanova departed in late 2000 to form Carajo, replaced by Cristian "Titi" Lapolla and Marcelo Castro. Their album Animal 6 is remembered as the band's heaviest and most brutal record, blending updated nu metal with a return to classic groove. Further changes followed: Lapolla briefly left in 2002, Castro departed in 2003, and drummer Martín Carrizo returned after Pr3ssion disbanded. Their final studio album, Combativo, arrived in 2004 with a fully committed nu metal sound. After the Slipknot and Pepsi Music shows in 2005, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in 2006. Carrizo left, and frontman Andrés Giménez launched a new project called D-mente, a wordplay on "demente" (lunatic) and "devil mente."