Matriarch: The Puerto Rican All-Women Black Metal Band

    Did you know that one of the rare all-female black metal bands worldwide hails from Puerto Rico? I, for one, was oblivious to this fact until about a year ago. Since then, I embarked on a journey to unearth as much as possible about this band, tracing their origins and uncovering hints about their future music releases. In an era when female musicians and artists on the island are gaining unprecedented recognition, the opportunity for them to truly shine has never been more promising.

Matriarch, 2006

    Right from the outset, Matriarch distinguishes itself as an all-female black metal ensemble. Despite the evolving diversity within the black metal genre, male dominance still prevails. Women remain a minority, and all-women bands are even rarer. Moreover, they proudly represent Puerto Rican islanders, an additional layer of minority within a subgenre that, for years, remained both racially and sexually uniform. Adding to their uniqueness, their musical journey didn't commence recently; it took root back in 2002. While the contemporary black metal scene features a more visible presence of women and Latino musicians, such was not the case two decades ago. When it comes to their music, Matriarch's sound stands out distinctly within the realm of black metal. They skillfully amalgamate compositional elements from black, brutal, and death metal genres. Furthermore, their musical prowess extends to employing three distinct vocal styles: gutturals, fry screams, and operatic vocals.

    Off the bat, the band name says exactly what the band is about: Matriarch. Aria Vanessa the operatic vocalist and one of the guitarists of the band, explained it best: "We are a matriarchal society. We are representing women in all of her aspects. Not only among metal but in their daily basis as a human." Rather than merely delivering superficial rebellious rhetoric, their lyrics delve deeply into the struggles faced by women globally and on the island. Through bone-chilling screeches, resonant low growls, and operatic vocals reminiscent of a mourning banshee, they channel the potency and exasperation of women's experiences.

    Amidst the ongoing surge of female musicians on the island and the triumphant reemergence of Matriarch, the band aligns seamlessly with the current wave of burgeoning artists. While black metal and reggaeton exist on opposite ends of the genre spectrum, the women gaining prominence today share a resolute defiance against established gender norms and a music industry historically dominated by men. In a parallel vein, Matriarch has valiantly challenged the male-dominated metal subgenre for over two decades. The present moment couldn't be more apt to spotlight this band's prowess.

Sources:

“The Distorted Island: Heavy Metal and Community in Puerto Rico.” YouTube, 6 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKe5TMPGTqE.

“Matriarch.” Metaladies, 1 Jan. 1970, www.metaladies.com/bands/matriarch/. 

“Matriarch- Second Death of Souls(Live CD Release Hard Rock Cafe,San Juan PR 2008).” YouTube, 9 Feb. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V6pb0RdiHI&pp=ygUUbWF0cmlhcmNoIGJhbmRhIGxpdmU%3D.