Text by Marcelo Gomes
One undeniable thing is that Kool Metal Fest is already a landmark of heavy music in Brazil. So much so that they are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2024, and heavy music lovers were treated to the second edition in the same year with none other than Possessed and Venom Inc. The festival took place last Sunday, the 9th, at Vip Station and also featured the Brazilian bands Facada , Cemitério , Velho and Vulcano .
The task of opening the festival fell to Facada. Despite being the first band, the audience was already quite large, and the trio from Fortaleza (CE) started the mayhem as soon as they took the stage. Presenting the best grindcore, they received a warm reception throughout the show, including some mosh pits. Their fast and visceral sound resembled an out-of-control truck that left even the most hardcore fans stunned.
The Cemetery came next. They started with "The Return of the Living Dead," followed by "Cropsy's Revenge" and "Gang of Sadists." The trio, whose lyrics are based on horror films and sung in Portuguese, has been standing out as one of the strongest names in the current scene. This show came to prove it.
The vocalist and bassist, Hugo Golon , wasted no time, delivering one song after another. The audience responded by singing along and forming mosh pits. The final part of the show included "Sexta-Feira 13" (Friday the 13th), "Holocausto Canibal" (Cannibal Holocaust), "Natal Sangrento" (Bloody Christmas), and they said goodbye with "Morte Infernal" (Infernal Death), a Portuguese version of "Infernal Death" by the band Death.
The biggest surprise of the day for me was Velho. Before the show even started, the audience was already chanting his name. The black metal quartet from Rio de Janeiro appeared on stage with corpse paint (facial paint used by bands of the genre), striking the crowd with their sinister look.
The repertoire included songs like “Mais um Ano Esfria” (Another Year Gets Cold), “Cadáveres E Arte” (Corpses and Art), “Coma Induzido” (Induced Coma), “Satã, Apareça!” (Satan, Appear!), among others, which, sung in Portuguese, made this show a cult of the obscure, such was the participation of those present. Without a doubt, one of the highlights of the festival.
The veterans of Vulcano came to close the Brazilian participation in the festival. With a setlist based on their debut album, Blood Vengeance , the band led by founding guitarist Zhema Rodero , showed the importance of this classic in songs like “Holocaust”, “Dominios Of Death”, “Incubus”, among others that are part of the band's history such as “Witches Sabbath” and “Guerreiros De Satã” (Warriors of Satan). The negative point was the poor sound equalization, but this was overcome by the band's determination. They said goodbye promising a new album for 2024.
The incarnation of Venom with Tony Dolan arrived to throw open the gates of hell. The current Venom Inc. lineup features, in addition to Tony Dolan (vocals and bass), Curran Murphy (guitar), replacing Mantas from the original lineup who had health problems, and Marc Jackson (drums). The band began their performance with two anthems from the Cronos era, "Witching Hour" and "Bloodlust," which were enough to drive the fans insane and earn the band a standing ovation.
The band's current-phase compositions were present. Tracks like "Come To Me," "War," and "Inferno" showed that the band managed to maintain its essence in this new phase. The fans reacted in the most insane ways possible, climbing onto the stage, creating a mosh pit, and even lighting a flare in the crowd. The trio responded with an electrifying performance, especially guitarist Curran, who headbanged and ran from one side of the stage to the other.
Another powerful sequence of classics followed, with performances of “Welcome To Hell”, “Live Like An Angel”, “Carnivorous”, and “In Nomine Satanas” further igniting the seemingly possessed crowd. They interspersed this with a new track, the excellent “There’s Only Black” from their self-titled album released in 2022. Whether it was new or older material, the reaction was always brutal. The dance floor was on fire, and the heat was unbearable.
Without mercy, Venom Inc. delivered a journey into the realm of darkness. The final stretch included “Black Metal,” “In League With Satan,” “Countess Bathory,” and “Sons Of Satan.” The overwhelming performance from the band, which defined a genre with their album Black Metal, proved that their place in metal history is unshakeable and continues strong with Venom Inc.
Expectations were high for Possessed's return to Brazil after 11 years. The Americans are a major reference in the world of death metal, and here in Brazil, it's not uncommon to see a headbanger wearing the band's t-shirt. With a 15-minute delay, at 8:15 PM, the legendary vocalist Jeff Becerra appeared accompanied by Daniel Gonzalez (guitar), Claudeous Creamer (guitar), Robert Cardenas (bass), and Chris Aguirre (drums) to show why they are one of the biggest names in the genre.
They opened with “No More Room In Hell” and “Damned” from their latest album Revelations Of Oblivion (2019), proving that a king never loses his majesty. The band's essence remained intact, and Jeff was revered as he deserves; his name was shouted right from the start. Even in a wheelchair, the vocalist made a point of moving around and reciprocating the fans' affection. During the second song, he even gave a lucky fan a setlist. Becerra seemed bothered by the sound; his gestures suggested he couldn't hear the guitars or his own voice.
The possessed fans wanted more, so came “Pentagram”, “Seance”, “The Word” and “Storm In My Mind”. The latter featured Daniel standing out in the intro. The band seemed like a steamroller about to devastate souls while the dance floor transformed into utter pandemonium. What was remarkable was how they managed to create mosh pits with the venue so packed.
The red lights set the tone for the performance, a true immersion into the world of darkness. The brutality of "Dominion," "The Eyes Of Horror," "Tribulation," and "Graven" seemed to push the audience to their limits.
Fatigue was setting in until they played the classic "The Exorcist," and the devastation at Vip Station was successfully restored. Certainly, one of the highlights of the show, it led everyone present to unleash their demons, sealing a chilling pact between the audience and Possessed.
The show was nearing its end, but there was still time for "Demon," "Fallen Angel," during which Jeff gave the microphone to some people to do some guttural vocals, "Death Metal," and to close, "Burning In Hell."
The intensity of the performance remained high until the end. In the stands, it was possible to see people with flares celebrating this historic night.
And what can we say about Jeff Becerra? The guy is a metal warrior, the true definition of resilience. In every show he exuded strength and charisma, inspiring us all. The festival was a success, everything went well and on schedule, and the result was a more than satisfied audience. Without a doubt, this edition definitively cemented the festival's status, celebrating extreme metal.
