Maldito duende

When you dive into *Maldito duende*, you encounter a piece that strays from the conventional. It is often described as a ballad-rock song, but it has that quality of Héroes del Silencio of being more than just a simple label. The lyrics, as is customary with them, leave room for interpretation; its author, Enrique Bunbury, never stopped at concrete explanations about its meaning, inviting each listener to carve their own paths. The song lasts 4 minutes and 15 seconds, and its impact was such that it reached number 1 on the Los 40 Principales chart in Spain on April 20, 1991, an achievement it repeated after *Entre dos tierras*.

This musical piece is part of *Senderos de traición*, the second studio album by Héroes del Silencio, which was released in November 1990. The recording took place at Kirios Studios in Madrid, with Phil Manzanera overseeing production for Sound & Management in Zurich. The mixes were done at Metropolis Studios in London, with Keith Bessey as the engineer. The album itself is perceived as an introspective work, blending influences of gothic rock, pop, and hard rock, seeking a sound that better reflected their live energy, something they felt they hadn’t fully achieved with their debut. *Maldito duende* was the second single from this record. Shortly after, in March 1991, a single was released featuring this song as the main track. Over the years, it has appeared in various compilations, including a live version from the *Tour 2007*. The music video for the song, filmed in London by Italian director Alberto Sciamma, features images of the band interwoven with the transparent silhouette of Enrique Bunbury, all wrapped in psychedelic tones.