STRANDED IN HELL (2026)
Some journeys are chosen.
Others begin the moment there is no way back.
Stranded In Hell is the second full-length album by Quemasantos and the band's first to be written and recorded entirely in English. Released in 2026, the album represents a major creative evolution, transforming the band's signature heavy and thrash metal sound into an ambitious concept work where every song forms part of a single narrative.
While the debut album Quemasantos established the band's musical identity through a collection of independent songs, Stranded In Hell expands that vision into an interconnected story. Across eleven chapters, the listener descends through an infernal world where fear, temptation, justice, isolation, survival, and redemption become part of the same inevitable journey. Every song represents a different encounter within that universe, while together they tell a larger story of confronting darkness from both without and within.
Musically, the album pushes Quemasantos further than ever before. Rooted in classic heavy and thrash metal, Stranded In Hell blends crushing riffs, memorable melodies, dynamic arrangements, cinematic atmospheres, and powerful performances that elevate the band's songwriting without abandoning its traditional metal foundation. Influences from bands such as Overkill, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Accept, and Exodus remain evident while allowing the band's own identity to take center stage.
Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ignacio Orellana at Oily Sound Studios in New York, the album continues Quemasantos' tradition of international collaboration, bringing together musicians from different countries while maintaining a unified artistic vision. Every production decision was made in service of the story, creating an immersive listening experience from beginning to end.
One of the album's defining moments is "Red Planet," an English adaptation of "Planeta Rojo," originally released on the band's 2022 debut album. While the lyrics and presentation were reimagined for Stranded In Hell, the song serves as a bridge between Quemasantos' Spanish and English eras, connecting both records through a shared musical legacy. On the original recording, drums and bass were performed by Ignacio Orellana, while guitars were recorded by Reggison Silva.
The album was written during one of the most difficult periods in Ignacio Orellana's life while his wife, Ximena Muñoz, was undergoing treatment for cancer. Throughout that time, fifteen songs were composed as both an artistic outlet and a way to continue creating despite overwhelming uncertainty. Eleven of those compositions ultimately became Stranded In Hell.
Although the album unfolds within a fictional infernal universe, its emotional foundation is rooted in perseverance, resilience, and the determination to move forward when life offers no easy path. Behind the monsters, the landscapes, and the symbolism lies a deeply personal story of endurance and hope.
More than a concept album, Stranded In Hell represents the next stage in Quemasantos' evolution. It preserves the heavy metal spirit established on the band's debut while embracing a broader narrative vision, more ambitious songwriting, and a richer sonic landscape.
This is not simply a collection of songs.
It is a journey through hell...
...and the will to emerge from it.
Track Listing
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One Foot in Hell
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Burning the Black
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Succubus
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Stalking Sharks
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Nameless
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Red Planet
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Vampire
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The Oneironaut
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Under the Moonlight
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Before the Law
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Lex Talionis