Ill Niño CONFESSION (Roadrunner)

Like labelmates Soulfly, Ill Niño reflect their Latin American roots by playing vicious hard rock laced with bilingual lyrics, flamenco guitars, and tribal percussion. On their second album, the New Jersey band delve deeper into melody with the help of Saliva producer Bob Marlette, but their attack remains brutal enough for the mosh pit.

With its stormy chorus and meditative beats, first single "How Can I Live" is their biggest hit to date. "Do you dream of me/I always dream about you," frontman Cristian Machado sings, his abandonment issues pushing their way to the forefront. As its title suggests, Confession is more personal than Ill Niño’s debut. Machado tries to come to terms with his broken family on the emotional power ballad "Unframed," then lashes out at them in frustration on the seething "Re-Birth." Second single "This Time’s for Real" is a declaration of professional ambition that rocks like Linkin Park with an extra dose of pop-metal sleaze. On that track and the salsa-flavored "Numb," the band let their nylon-string guitars stray into easy-listening territory, with colorful results. Weaker songs fall prey to over-production and self-pity, but, hey, it’s about time somebody put the new age into new metal.

(Il Niño perform this Saturday, March 13, at the Palladium, 261 Main Street in Worcester, with Flaw, Element Eighty, and 40 Below Summer; call 508-797-9696.)