Text by Marcelo Gomes
Blessthefall 's return to Brazil after 9 years brought a legion of fans to the Carioca Club. With the venue completely packed, the band delivered a stunning performance through their discography, satisfying the fans who had been eagerly awaiting this moment. The Latin American tour concluded in São Paulo and also featured the Brazilian bands Broad And Sharp and December .
Broad And Sharp was the first band of the night. With a good-sized crowd already in the venue, the hardcore metal band from São Paulo, formed in 2012, performed songs from their career, as well as featuring their new vocalist Roger Guinalia and new guitarist Emerson Pereira . Unfortunately, the sound equalization of the show slightly hampered their performance. Even so, they showed quality in the tracks "Nossa Causa é Morrer" (Our Cause is to Die), "Sobre Meninos E Lobos" (About Boys and Wolves), and "As Dores Da Compreensão" (The Pains of Understanding). The highlight was the song "Esperança" (Hope), which the vocalist from Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to the people of Rio Grande do Sul, who are going through a calamity due to the floods that devastated the state. In the end, they gained the support of the audience and left with a positive result.
With December , the sound problems persisted. Muffled vocals and a sound practically devoid of bass forced the band to work hard to reach the audience. The metalcore of the São Paulo band resonated with the crowd, who already knew them from other shows. The setlist included older compositions like "Oceana" and "Sinais 2," as well as a new single called "Oxigênio." What wasn't lacking was energy for the band to showcase their work and empathy with the people of Rio Grande do Sul. They dedicated the song "Casa" to them, and practically performed the entire show with the state's flag displayed on the screen. Despite the sound problems, the band delivered an energetic performance and achieved great acceptance.
At the scheduled time, 8:30 PM, the night's main attraction appeared amidst much screaming and a slight apprehension that the sound wouldn't be up to par with the performance. However, right from the introduction, it was clear that there had been a considerable improvement, better regulated and with greater pressure. With a shout from São Paulo from the vocalist, Beau Bokan , Blessthefall kicked off the show with "Exodus". Currently formed by Jared Warth (bass/vocals), Eric Lambert (guitar), Elliott Gruenberg (guitar), and Jared Fron (drums), the quintet arrived hungry for the stage and got everyone jumping.
Without warning, “Cuttroad” arrived, and it was like being plunged headfirst into a hurricane. The grooves lifted the crowd into the air as they sang wildly. That was all it took for the band's name to be shouted by everyone and for “Hollow Bodies” to be played with incredible intensity. The response was once again explosive; everyone sang every word. The energy was so great that it almost drowned out Beau's vocals.
It was one hit after another, and “2.0” was there to prove it. Two phrases make up the song, which is certainly a response to some detractor of the band. After all, “we’re not dead, we’re not like you say,” sung so aggressively and repeated like a mantra by the audience, proves that they are indeed more alive than ever. The double feature with “What’s Left On Me,” as on the album Witness (2009), was breathtaking.
Without any intention of letting up, they followed with “Youngbloods” and “Carry On.” But the band doesn't just live in the past; they presented a new song, “Wake The Dead,” a single released in 2023 that has already won over the crowd. It couldn't be otherwise: heaviness, groove, electronic elements, and everything that made the band famous were present. The approval came through the mosh pits, with the lyrics on the tip of everyone's tongue. Judging by the members' satisfied faces, there couldn't have been a better reception. While the emotional “Wishful Sinking” showcased a more melodic side of Blessthefall, “Déjà Vu” brought out their more technical side in an impeccable performance.
The big surprise came next, with “Open Water,” a song only played in São Paulo during their Latin American tour. The song caught everyone off guard, moving and deeply connecting with the fans. Under the lights of cell phones, Beau delivered a poignant performance, reaching a peak of sensitivity that the song demanded. It was certainly the high point of his performance. Once again, the band received a well-deserved standing ovation. Beau took the opportunity to introduce drummer Jared Fron, as it was his first visit to Brazil. The vocalist asked Jared for a solo, and even though he was caught off guard, he delivered a great performance with a distinctly Brazilian beat that won over the audience immediately.
Completely at ease, Beau sang part of "40 Days" in the pit, very close to the fans. In the middle of the song, a huge wall of death opened up on the dance floor at the vocalist's request, and in the end, everyone survived. "Bottomfeeder" was no different. Beau was excited and decided to provoke the São Paulo fans by saying that the previous night, the Curitiba fans had said they were the best fans in Brazil. A huge chorus of "Hey, Curitiba, go f*** yourself" took over the Carioca Club. You could see the Americans having fun with the circus on fire. After the moment of relaxation, the show moved towards its final part with "Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad," "Promised Ones," and "You Wear A Crown But You're Not A King," all with the usual brutality that left no one standing still.
But the tireless fans from São Paulo still wanted more; the last song was “Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted,” a track with a very fitting title. A little over an hour was enough to transform this show into a memorable night. The band delivered everything and more, cleansing the souls of the fans in a deep connection from the very first chord. The wait was worth it, and the image of the farewell with the Brazilian flag customized with the band's name gave hope for a return soon. Now all that remains is to wait!
Our contributor Thiago Vidal was also at the show and captured the evening. Check out our exclusive photo gallery below.
