Review Summary: Pedra is one of the best experimental rock albums made in Spain in the 90s!
After editing the excellent "Deltoya," Roberto Iniesta underwent a series of personal changes that led him to live in Barcelona.
All of this resulted in the members of the group, still based in Extremadura, gradually disengaging from the project, ultimately ending the classic lineup of the band. The first to step down was the drummer Luis Von Fanta, shortly followed by the bassist Carlos el Sucio, and the last to break ties with Roberto Iniesta was the legendary Salo, a fine guitarist who played a crucial role in shaping the band's sound in the first three albums.
However, during this period of changes, Robe embarked on a project initially unrelated to his main band, which came to be called La Pedra. This album was intended to be an experimental work, akin to a supergroup, a common occurrence in progressive rock as seen in bands like Asia or Transatlantic, and it was not going to bear the name Extremoduro. Both the album and the band were simply going to be Pedra.
Despite being recorded between Barcelona and the Basque Country between "Deltoya" in 1992 and "¿Dónde están mis amigos?" in 1993, the album did not see the light until 1995. This delay was due to DRO, the record label with which Roberto Iniesta had a contract at that time, refusing to release the album under the name Pedra. Consequently, it was eventually released almost two years after being recorded under the name Extremoduro, although it is not truly a record of this band. Or is it?
Because let's not deceive ourselves... Robe's creative and compositional force is so immense that Pedra is simply another Extremoduro album, despite the musicians involved attempting to give it another name. Robe has a very distinctive way of composing, singing, and playing, and Pedra is yet another example of that. Extremoduro always was, during its active years, Roberto Iniesta and the musicians accompanying him.
And what is Pedra? An authentic masterpiece lasting 30 minutes, in which nothing is redundant or lacking. It's a dive by Mr. Iniesta into pure progressive rock, something he had flirted with in his previous albums but fully embraces here. In just thirty minutes, we go through transgressive rock, hard rock, urban rock, heavy metal, jazz, musical poetry, flamenco, and a whole range of musical adventures and textures that seem unbelievable to fit into just 30 minutes of music. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Regarding the sound, it's worth noting that this album sounds noticeably better than Extremoduro's previous albums, and even better than the subsequent "¿Dónde están mis amigos?" thanks to the excellent production at Lorentxo Records and the invaluable contribution of Uoho on guitars, along with the other musicians who also did a great job.
Conclusion: Pedra is one of the best experimental rock albums made in Spain in the 90s, on par with other genre greats like "Omega" by Lagartija Nick and Enrique Morente.
It's an incredible 30-minute piece conceived by the saxophonist Selu, composed by Roberto Iniesta, and excellently recorded and produced, undoubtedly delighting progressive rock enthusiasts. In a way, it laid the foundation for later masterpieces like "La Ley Innata" and "Mayeutica."
It wasn't meant to be an Extremoduro album but a separate project, yet it undeniably bears all the signature, personality, and genius of Roberto Iniesta. But ultimately, this fact is inconsequential. What matters is that it is unquestionably a masterpiece, and my favourite 90's Extremoduro album.
