The artist of the week: Pacto (Colombia)

I have the good fortune of discovering many unsigned and talented bands from around the globe. This time They are an Unsigned and Independent band from Bogota, Colombia. This whole sorcerer kingdom started back in 2007 in Bogotá. It was just two brothers—John Sabogal on guitar and Manuel Sabogal on keys—jamming out some instrumental stuff like “Senda Sin Fin” and “El Reino de los Hechiceros”. No vocals, just vibes. But little by little, it morphed into something way darker, way deeper: the band we now call PACTO. (I doubt you need translation for it)

Musically, they’re cooking up a wild mix—melodic black metal at the core, but with that doom-ish atmosphere and even some IDM thrown in. Yeah, Intelligent Dance Music. Think Windir, Draconian, Aphex Twin, The Kovenant, even Dimmu. You’ll feel it.

Lyrically? It gets real. They’re not singing about dragons or fantasy lands. PACTO dives headfirst into our messed-up reality: wars, greed, hate, double standards, everything that’s slowly eating away our humanity. It’s heavy. And it hits.

These days, the lineup is tight: Giovani Cantor on lead vocals, Lennys Garzón bringing that melodic contrast, John and Manuel still holding it down, and Jorge Arévalo on bass. They work with killer session drummers too. It’s a unit.

Over the years, the band’s had some changes, but John and Manuel have been the spine since day one. Shoutout to past warriors like David Díaz (first album vocals), Iván Serrano (bass on Sagrada Victoria), and Freddy Robayo and Johan Montaño on drums—each left their mark on the realm.

In 2014, Giovani joined and brought in a whole new energy. He’s the voice behind Sagrada Victoria (2017) and Lamento de Gaia (2024). And when Iván stepped out in 2017, Jorge came in on bass and never looked back.

The debut album was raw and self-produced—El Reino De Los Hechiceros in 2014. Then came Sagrada Victoria with Metal Garage in 2017. But the real beast? Lamento De Gaia. Started in lockdown, recorded in bedrooms, even on phones. But thanks to Mattias Krieger and Pocket Audio, it sounds massive. Studio-quality chaos.

One track—Lamento De Gaia—featured guest vocals by Roxana Restrepo. And that opened a new door. In 2023, Lennys joined the band full-time. And with her voice added to Giovani’s growls… damn. Now you’ve got melody and madness colliding, creating this ethereal trip where blast beats meet funeral fog.

Voted Best National Metal Music Video at the first International Film and Metal Festival (FICIME) in 2019 with the video Muerte, El Libro De Tu Vida.

Alright, time to dive into the world of PACTO. Let’s break down their albums and see how this band has transformed over the years.

El Reino de los Hechiceros (2014) Their raw, mystical beginning. This was the band’s first incantation. A raw, home-produced album that already showed what PACTO was about—guitars weaving mystical paths, keyboards casting shadows, and a strong instrumental vibe that transports you to another realm. The sound isn’t polished, but that’s part of the charm—it’s pure underground sorcery. You can hear the band finding its voice, and it’s full of magic, mystery, and potential.

Sagrada Victoria (2017) The rise of a powerful, politically-charged sound. Now we’re talking. This is PACTO charging into battle. The production got a serious level-up, and you can feel the fire in tracks like “Infinito” and “Culto a la Mentira.” The themes are sharper—corruption, hypocrisy, and spiritual decay all get torn apart with a melodic black metal blade. This is where the band started owning their sound. Everything’s tighter, darker, and more confrontational. It’s still emotional, but now it hits harder and goes deeper.

Lamento de Gaia (2024) The full bloom: emotionally rich, sonically epic. This is it. Peak PACTO. Born during the pandemic, recorded in isolation, sometimes even with phones—but you'd never guess it. Thanks to Mattias Krieger and Pocket Audio, the sound is huge. Vocals are split between Giovani’s deep growls and Lennys Garzón’s haunting melodic voice, creating a balance that feels cinematic. The title track is a masterpiece—Gaia’s grief pouring out in soundwaves. This album feels like a journey: brutal, beautiful, and heartbreaking. They’ve evolved from a cult band into a force of nature.

If you're into melodic black metal that hits your brain and your gut—with raw innate stories behind it— you´re in the right place and PACTO is just what you are craving for. PACTO’s lyrics are a visceral, poetic descent into the shadows of human existence. Rather than rely on cliché satanic themes, they craft narratives that expose the rot of modern society—religious dogma, environmental collapse, fear-driven control, and inner turmoil. Songs like “Sentenciando Tu Elección” speak to the crushing weight of blind obedience, where free will is sacrificed on the altar of comfort. In “Lamento De Gaia”, featuring Roxana Restrepo, the Earth becomes a grieving mother—wounded by greed, neglected by her children, and crying out through layers of atmospheric melancholy. Tracks like “Seres de Miedo y Angustia” unravel the psychological torment of living in a world that feeds on fear, while “Voces Que Resisten” becomes an anthem of rebellion, honoring those who rise against oppression with rage and dignity. Even their title track “El Reino de los Hechiceros” paints a mystical world—not to escape, but to reflect on the chaos we've created, where imagination becomes a weapon and music a spell. Every word in PACTO’s catalog feels intentional—anchored in raw emotion and urgent truth—reminding us that black metal can still be both ferocious and deeply human.

As usual , I´m dropping their social accounts below.

- https://www.facebook.com/pactometal
- https://www.instagram.com/pactoofficial/
- https://pacto.bandcamp.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/@PactoOfficial