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Cuban metal band Escape was born in Havana in 2000 as part of the nascent Cuban metal scene. Formed by Alejandro Padron Granados (drums and director) and Justo Estrada Karel Valdes (rhythm guitar), Escape quickly pieced together a band to include Yanio Troy Lee (lead guitar), Alejandro “DeLa” Torre Chavez (bass and vocals), Jennifer Hernandez Urbay (keyboards) and Ewar Acosta (lead vocals).

Escape gained a following almost immediately on the island hypnotizing Cubans with their explosive sound and providing thrashing beats and careening melodies where there had previously been only silence. As part of a raw metal movement intent on bringing metal to the salsa-saturated communist country, Escape rallied “frikis” across the island with their anthem, “Cuba en Rebelion”, a song featured in the film “Habana Blues” directed by Benito Sambrano, which was included on the soundtrack that won a Goya Award in Spain. 

In 2004, Ewar Acosta left the band to immigrate to the United States and was replaced by Yando Coy Alvarez. Escape continued to evolve over the years, honing their distinct musical style that included the complex rhythms of Cuba fused with western-style riffs that made American Metal famous. 

Escape performed all over Cuba, including the historic and legendary "Patio Maria", sharing the stage with their Cuban metal contemporaries including Zeus, Agonizer and Combat Noise. They performed in and headlined festivals from Pinar del Rio to Santiago de Cuba, headlining at several and sharing the stage with international acts at festivals such as “Brutal Fest”. Because of their tenacity and drive, including filming videos with very little resources now available on YOUTUBE, the band was awarded the very prestigious Lucas Award in 2005 for best metal video and Cuerda Viva award in 2012 for Best Metal Band. An almost impossible task on an island with very little resources, the band managed to record 5 albums, their most recent, “La Hora de La Verdad” produced by Brutal Beatdown Records which won a CUBADISCO award in 2013.

In 2010, the immigration of Jennifer Hernandez, (keyboards) to be reunited with her father, internationally renowned percussionist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, in the United States, and was replaced by Jezabel Sigler Prieto, graduated musician of ISA. All this was filmed as part of a documentary on the band, “They Will Be Heard”, (www.theywillbeheard.com) directed by Tracey Noelle Luz to be released early in 2014.

In March of 2013, Escape arrived in the United States as part of a Cuban metal contingent including members of Ancestor and Agonizer to perform at the “UnBlock the Rock” (UBTR) showcase at The JR at SXSW. UBTR, founded by director Tracey Noelle Luz and Jennifer Hernandez organized tirelessly over 2 years with film producer Monica Hampton, (“Heavy Metal in Baghdad”, “Fahrenheit 911”) and legendary guitar player Alex Skolnick of Testament, building a movement and soliciting donations to bring Escape to perform in the United States. UBTR, working with writer David Peisner and Alicia Zertuche of SXSW, helped to navigate the complex legal maze of bringing a Cuban band to perform in the states while raising money to bring the band from Havana to Miami and from Miami to Austin. The story of this process is very well documented in Peisner’s article, “Libertad: Cuban Metal Bands Get Their First Taste of Freedom” on Buzzfeed. 

Unfortunately after their performance in Austin, Escape lost two members, Yanio Lee (lead guitar) and Alejandro “DeLa” Torre (bass and vocals) who returned to Cuba before performing in New York City. 

Weeks after their performance in Austin, UBTR, working with metal icon Rudy Sarzo and music philanthropist Jeff Gerson, was able to raise the necessary funds to bring Escape to NYC , where Escape’s line up was completed by musicians Karina Rykman (Sound of Urchin), and Josh Musto (ShitKill). At their performance at Tobacco Road, Escape was joined by Alex Skolnick of Testament, Chris “Tomato” Harfenist of Sound of Urchin and Yunior of FireHaze. 

The band’s NYC experience was documented in “Escape to NYC” a mini-doc for Google Play, directed by Tracey Noelle Luz and produced by Monica Hampton.

Escape would like to thank everyone who has been a part of making this dream come true, including, but not limited to David Chapet of Brutal Breakdown Records, David Peisner, Chris "Tomato" Harfenist, Monica Hampton, Alex Skolnick, WSOU, Firehaze and all the bands who contributed to “The Red Album”, and everyone who donated money and time so the band could make the trip.

Currently the band is in Miami, Florida, in the process of recording their sixth demo, along with new members, replacing those who returned to Cuba.

MBA Mondays series by Fred Wilson
from AVC.com

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