Basca

Basca was an Ecuadorian heavy metal and thrash metal band formed in 1990 in Cuenca. The original members were Juan Pablo Hurtado, Paulo Freire, Alex Betancourt, and Franklin Pérez. After Betancourt left in 1993, Xavier Calle joined, and the group began writing original songs addressing social protest and mythology. Their debut album, Hijos de..., was released in 1997, followed by the live recording Hijos de... En vivo (1998). The band’s discography included the studio albums Tierras Nefastas (2000), Resucita (2006), and Siniestro (2015). The ensemble performed at concerts alongside international groups such as Metallica, Megadeth, and Testament. In 2018, they released the EP Es Hora de Pelear. Following the death of guitarist Leandro “Folo” Jara in 2022, his brother Jonatan Jara joined the lineup. The band received the “Banda Trayectoria y con más discos vendidos” award in 2010 and the “Orden Nacional al Mérito” in 2025.