2019 was a strange year for underground medicine in Tijuana, Baja California. A series of unfortunate events befell one of the most infamous medical practices in all of Mexico, causing it to abruptly shutter its seedy doors, effectively halting its progress on questionable medical techniques and research. However, the fierce need within the remaining doctors to continue their work could not be excised from the world of medicine. Plans were quickly brought forth to create a new practice in which the fouryoung doctors’ thirst for the discovery of new sinister medical knowledge could be quenched.
By mid-2019, the entity now known as UNIDAD TRAUMA had already begun to enter the ears of the populace both Mexico and the United States. Stories began circulating regarding a group of so-called “medical practitioners” who would give dissertations in the form of a harsh musical assault to those with an unhealthy curiosity for occult medicine.A tour with Cattle Decapitation, as well as a tour of Mexico’s most populace cities commenced, culminating in an apperance at Masters Of Grind in Belgium alongside acts such as Birdflesh, General Surgery, Cattle Decapitation, and Agathocles. Unfortunately, world events related to the global pandemic caused the postponement of UNIDAD TRAUMA’s largest performance yet at Domination Festival in Mexico City, as well as other planned Mexican and US tour dates. The doctors then surmised that the best course of action during the pandemic would be acquire multiple test subjects and lock themselves in their clinic in Tijuana… scheming and toiling away, surgically sculpting the material that single and music video for “Cenotafio”, multiple live sessions, as well as the material for their debut release “Arte Médica Sinestra”, on Concreto Records. Since then, the band has been busy touring the United States and Mexico, most notably with acts such as Brujeria and Goatwhore in 2022, and also dropped a new singles “Devorador” (2022) and “Del Tratamiento Al Tormento” (2023).
Unidad Trauma’s new EP, Paradigma Egocéntrico Fatalista, is a concept record based on a horrifying true case which took place in the 90’s in Japan. Hisachi Ouchi, the protagonist of this story lived through 83 days in a rapidly decaying body which had been exposed to nuclear radiation. Each song is a chapter of this story told through the eyes of the doctors, the patient and expressed through the mind of Unidad Trauma.
It was my pleasure to chat with Dr. Oscar Padilla on the new album Paradigma Egocéntrico Fatalista which was out on April 17. Check out the below Interview.
Hola! Greetings from Metalheads Forever Magazine, I’m Keith Clement, How are you today?
Doing great! I am Dr. Oscar Padilla, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist of Unidad Trauma. It’s a pleasure to speak with Metalheads Forever Magazine!
Your new EP “Paradigma Egocentrico Fatalista” is to be out on April 17, Would you like to tell me about the songwriting and production behind the album?
The song writing was definitely some of the smoothest I’ve ever experienced in any setting. There were a lot of heavy things going on at the time so it was rather easy to channel all of those emotions into the guitar.
I usually write all the songs on my own, complete full demos for the guys, and have them put their special twist on things respective to their instrument. Dr. Murillo and Dr. Morales really wrote some killer things on drums and bass respectively. I’m really happy with the outcome, but I will admit that I am eager to record the next album already!
Is there a concept or a theme that was focused on the album?
Indeed there was. It focuses on the real life events of the Tokaimura Nuclear Incident which occured in Japan circa 1999. Hisashi Ouchi suffered a lethal dose of radiation during an accident at the plant. With the help of medical teams from all around the world, as well as numerous advancements in experimental medical technology, he managed to survive for 83 days. The album takes place in alternate reality where doctors and researchers from our practice in Tijuana flew to Japan to observe and research Hisashi while he suffered an immensely painful, slow death.
Would you like to tell me about the cover-art making and what is the story behind the cover artwork?
The cover artwork was done by one of my favorite artists of all time, Nestor Ávalos. His extremely dark and blasphemous style was something I wanted going forward in Unidad Trauma. I usually like to let the listener take what they will from the cover artwork, there are plenty of details that represent the dichotomy of of Hisashi’s situation.
An Intro followed by 6 mind-blowing death metal awesomeness with beautiful melodic death Vocals and a masterpiece of musicianship ending with an outro, more of a story based setup made on the album, how do you feel about the outcome?
Thank you! I believe we are all happy with the outcome of the album. We were really able to take the next step in solidifying the bands sound and context.
Del Tratamiento Al Tormento came as a single in 2023 and had it featured as the 1st song for this album with an official music video, can you tell me about the song and making of the video?
The song was the first song we had completely down as a band before we flew to Colombia to play Bogota Grind Death Fest. We figured we could shoot it as a “live” music video while we were there.
Any plans for more music videos from this album?
We have a video for the next single “A Su Merced (Día 83)” releasing by the time this interview is released. It came out super rad! We did almost everything in-house including SFX.
Do you guys have any big plans for the day of the release?
The day the album releases we will be halfway through through our tour. Excited that we get to share that day with our fans in El Paso, Texas. Cartilage also released a new album recently on Everlasting Spew, definitely go check it out!
Starting April 11, you are touring USA and Mexico, are there more touring plans for later this year?
As of right now we are finalizing plans for the rest of the year. Nothing we can talk about yet, but we will definitely be hitting the road again later this year.
Can you tell me how it all started for you guys and how Unidad Trauma was formed?
UT was formed after the dissolution of Thanatology. We continued the band with the same lineup minus the old vocalist. While we kept the medical aesthetics, the bands music shifted much more to focus on better song writing and the introduction of new themes aside from the typical gore related medical topics we see a lot in our genre. Not that I mind that stuff at all! We’ve had a few lineup changed then but essentially the creative core of UT has always been the same.
Formed in 2019, With a release of a demo followed by two singles and 2021 with your debut EP Arte medica Siniestra and now with a second EP, how do you feel about the road that you have travelled so far?
I am very happy with where we have gone. Our first year as a band we toured with Cattle Decapitation who was gracious enough to take us on the road with them as they went to go record Death Atlas in 2019. The same year we got invited to play in Europe… and things pretty much have been nonstop since then. Even during the pandemic the band saw a lot of growth. I do wish we were able to release more music during this time. I plan to rectify this in 2025/2026 with back to back physical releases and plenty of singles. We already have almost two more albums worth of material already written.
Any story behind the band being on mask covered faces?
I wouldn’t trust a surgeon without a mask.
What has been some of the highlights for the band?
Definitely the USA Brujería tour in 2022. We also played the last Mexican Brujería date before Juan and Peach passed away (RIP).
Finally any message for the fans around the world?
Keep strong in the harsh world and make good art.
Prefacio – Lúgubre Estela en un Sol Naciente
Cap. 1 – Del Tratamiento Al Tormento
Cap. 2 – Cherenkov – Respirando Dolor
Cap. 3 – Enfermedad Manifiesta
Cap. 4 – 3 Veces 3 (Dia 59)
Cap. 5 – Intacto Corazon
Cap. 6 – A Su Merced (Día 83)
Conclusión – Paradigma Egocéntrico en una Intervención Médica
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