This isn’t a live album. It’s what happens after the songs outgrow their original shapes. When the road pushes them forward, the studio simply documents the mutation. Across Transmutations, Balthazar Aguirre (guitar/production), Johanna Mercuriana (bass), and Santiago Lizcano (drums) operate less like a trio and more like a single, evolving pulse, with Vanessa Muñoz, their interim drummer,  leaving a distinct imprint on key performances. The album, on their own label, Cubensis Records, shows continued growth and experimentation. The result is a combination of groove-intensive songs with the fiery feel of a live setting. 

The opening song, “Ojos Verdes (Alchemized)” finds Aguirre stretching the melody into something more fluid while Lizcano keeps the groove grounded but elastic. Mercuriana (and Muñoz’s live imprint) turns the bassline into a quiet engine that’s subtle, but always moving.

“LSD in Bahia” keeps the train on the tracks. Lizcano leads here, pulling from Brazilian rhythmic language, while Aguirre colors outside the lines with edgy guitar textures. The bass work, rounded and patient, lets the track drift without losing direction while building on a tight rhythmic foundation with an intense end-of-song rave-up that recalls Santana and early instrumental Journey. 

“Mood Swing (Alchemized)” is built for bodies in motion. Mercuriana locks into a dancefloor-ready figure while Aguirre trims his phrasing down to essentials. Lizcano’s pocket is deep, repetitive in the best way, discipline over flash. Add to that, the vocals are trance-like and ethereal. 

Lizcano takes control of “Outer Reaches” with a percussion-forward approach that nudges the band outward. The band lets its freak flag fly on this intense and joyous rave-up.  Aguirre follows instinctively, while the bass anchors the exploration just enough to keep it from drifting away.

“Shakedown Street” is a loose-limbed tribute to the Grateful Dead spirit. Aguirre plays it sly, Mercuriana keeps it grounded, and Lizcano lets it breathe. The song is less homage, more shared language. The vocals are as strong as the groove is compelling. 

“ Inner Heights” is where improvisation becomes identity. You can hear the trio reacting in real time—Aguirre probing with some of his most emotive guitar work, Mercuriana adjusting, Lizcano stitching it together with feel over form. 

“Johanna’s Dream (Alchemized)” is a fitting close, with Mercuriana’s presence felt most strongly. The song is melodic, centered, and reflective. Aguirre frames it gently, and Lizcano lets the rhythm dissolve rather than resolve. The song brings the listener in for a soft and satisfying landing. 

Transmutations captures BALTHVS in motion with songs reshaped by distance, repetition, and instinct. Aguirre, Mercuriana, and Lizcano don’t just revisit their catalog; they rewire it, with Muñoz’s contributions marking a key transitional layer. This is less about performance and more about process. The sound of a band becoming something new in real time.