1680 - Latzen Txori Txarrak 2025

Latzen’s 2025 comeback was of the most striking developments for the Basque metal scene. After a 27-year hiatus from recording, the band from Oñati has returned with *Denboraren Orbainak* (Scars of Time)—an album that not only recaptures their heavy-thrash essence but updates it with surprising maturity. The current lineup retains its core veteran members—Aitor Uriarte (vocals and guitar), Joxe Mari Azpitarte (bass), and Gorka Lazkano (drums)—while adding the power of Yerko Ortiz (formerly of Dirty Shadow) on lead guitar. It begins with “Txori txarrak,” a direct track that reminds us why Latzen was at the forefront of the metal scene in the 90s, retaining those razor-sharp guitars and Aitor’s melodic yet raw vocals—vocals that make the lyrics feel deeply personal to us, even though they were one of the few pioneering bands of their time to sing in their native language.