Mixerr Album Reviews #2,235

Vallejo - Raw Sessions was an album released by none other than the Vallejo band from Austin, Texas. Now this album was Vallejo’s very first album when they went by the name "The Vallejo Bros" and released in 1989 on cassette format.

Contrary to popular belief, Sins was not their first album or EP as people would have you believe. Raw Sessions was their first album and not Sins. Only hardcore and longtime Vallejo fans know about the Raw Sessions album.

Raw Sessions was released on cassette only and was released independently. There is and was no CD version for this album. Not many copies of Raw Sessions were pressed up because this album was a limited release. The album was mainly sold in Birmingham, Alabama and Austin, Texas. However this album was mostly sold in Birmingham, Alabama because that is where the Vallejo Brothers were living at the time.

Michael Panapento was the producer for their first album and was hired as the percussionist. That is why you can hear him playing percussion. Funk, Latin, and rock were thrown in together on this album. Yet the album retains that hard rock edge and sound.


Here is the history behind this album.

In fall 1989, the Vallejo Brothers were hired by their high school friend Eric Abernathy to play at his house party. They billed themselves as "The Vallejo Bros". They became a hit at Eric’s house party. So the Vallejo Bros became becomes the "go to" party band in the Birmingham area.

During the same year with help and urging from their high school Eric Abernathy, The Vallejo Brothers entered an impromptu battle of the bands contest in Birmingham, Alabama. They won the grand prize which was free recording time at a local studio.

One of the judges of that night happens to be Michael Panapento. Motown producer/percussionist Michael Panapento took the band under his wing to record their first limited release on cassette called The Raw Sessions. Michael Panapento acted as the producer for their very first album. He also played percussion on their album.


Boogie Man is a hard rock song with all hard rock energy. You can feel the intensity and energy in style with this hard rock song. Boogie Man does get startling at times. Honestly Boogie Man should have became an instant hit for the Vallejo band. Boogie Man was recorded in 1988 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Heavy Sugar is a heavy acoustic guitar ridden song accompanied by heavy bass lines. The bass lines are similar to what you would hear inside of acid jazz. Heavy Sugar sounds very similar to an early Metallica song from the Garage Days time period. The song Heavy Sugar also seems similar to a Creed song.


The Vallejo band explains in their lyrics through songwriting what rhythm is on the song Rhythm Is… as they do on all their other songs. This is one of their deeps songs which has a dark vibe.

Rhythm is in your vains slowly flowing through you similar to a river of red rain. The Vallejo band has not found their religion as music seems to be their vision. Rhythm is in the blood of human souls. Rhythm is in your blood as well. We are the future of the next generation.

I rate this album 4/5****!