Tritonea
Tritonea have their eyes fixed firmly beyond their birthplace. Formed in central Chile by five childhood friends who bonded over a shared obsession with The Beatles and school-hall jam sessions, the prog rock outfit – now made up of Matías Faúndez (vocal, guitar), Andrés Pizarro (guitar), Alejandro Villarroel (drums), Felipe Faúndez (piano keyboard) and Mauricio Pizarro (bass) – have spent the last decade forging their sound into something both boldly cinematic and unmistakably their own. Their new album, 'Ad Astra', marks not just a step forward but also a statement of intent: Tritonea are ready for the world.
Guitarist Matías Foundez remembers the beginnings with a grin. “We met at 11 and started playing Beatles covers. From there we moved onto classic rock, then prog. We’ve been playing together for almost 20 years now.” That longevity shows. Tritonea’s music blends ’70s melodic richness with classical composition and modern prog-metal heft, producing songs that feel as sweeping as a film score yet grounded in tight, muscular performances.
The classical streak runs deep. Both Foundez and his brother trained as pianists, and the fingerprints of Chopin, Liszt and Gustav Holst are dabbed over the arrangements. Meanwhile, Dream Theater, Yes and Deep Purple form the rock bedrock. But as Foundez explains, Chilean DNA is equally crucial. “[Pioneering folk-psych rockers] Los Jaivas are a huge inspiration. Their way of mixing rock with cultural identity is something we really admire.”
'Ad Astra' arrives after a turbulent period. During its creation, the band’s original drummer relocated to New Zealand. Rather than splitting, Tritonea recruited Villarroel, another former schoolmate, and used the shake-up to reimagine their older material, injecting it with new energy and confidence.
The standout introduction for UK listeners? Foundez doesn’t hesitate. “'Robin: La Azafata del Tren Espacial Nº7'. It tells a story through the music – the chaos, the energy. That’s Tritonea at its best.”
With Chile’s prog scene thriving and interest in Latin American heavy music growing globally, Tritonea feel primed for discovery well beyond their home turf. They’re already writing new material and are steadily building their profile, and though touring the UK or Europe isn’t yet on the cards, Foundez admits the idea holds a certain allure: “That’s where so much of the music we love comes from.” Here’s hoping…
- Julian Marszalek