Text by Marcelo Gomes
The 2024 edition of Kool Metal Fest, held last Sunday, the 11th, featured several special acts. Among them were Vio-Lence , Exhorder , Ratos De Porão , Damn Youth , Escalpo , Cerberus Attack , and Santa Muerte . And even during the Carnival holiday, the public turned out in force at the Carioca Club in São Paulo to enjoy the festival.
When Santa Muerte started, the venue was still quite empty. The trio played songs from their EP *Psychollic * and “Personal Hell,” a new track that will be part of the band's upcoming album. Immediately afterwards, it was Cerberus Attack's turn. The band is emerging as one of the most beloved of the new generation of Brazilian thrash metal. Proof of this is that the quartet managed to get a mosh pit going right from the first song with their competent thrash. Jhon França (vocals/guitar) complained a little about the monitor mix, but nothing that interfered with the band's performance, which was very well received. They said goodbye with a snippet of Kiss's “Detroit Rock City.”
Next up was Escalpo, presenting a sound with a more hardcore feel and several social critiques. The venue had already considerably increased its audience. Despite an energetic performance, they didn't manage to really get the crowd going. With Damn Youth, things were quite different. While the audience remained apathetic with Escalpo, the mosh pit erupted from the first song during the Ceará quartet's show. Vocalist Elton Luiz even put the microphone out for the fans to sing along a few times. Certainly, one of the promising names of the new generation that we will hear more about in the future.
Ratos de Porão came to deliver a sonic massacre. As soon as the curtains opened, João Gordo and company began with “Satanic Bullshit” and “Bad Trip,” two tracks from the album Just Another Crime , which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The reception was warm, and they continued with “Amazônia Nunca Mais” and “Farsa Nacionalista.” The quartet's performance continued, showcasing their entire discography. Tracks like “Morte Ao Rei,” “Ignorância,” “Aglomeração,” “Crianças Sem Futuro,” as well as absolute classics such as “Crucificados Pelo Sistema” and “Descanse Em Paz,” which was dedicated to former bassist Jabá who recently passed away, were played.
The misfortune seemed endless, Gordo, who is about to turn 60, still has a powerful voice, and the band maintains the energy of its golden age. Since it was Carnival weekend, they played a little samba before performing "Aids Pop Repressão," "Beber Até Morrer," and closing with "Crise Geral." The show was excellent, and after 40 years, Ratos showed why they are still the main exponent of the genre in Brazil.
The time had come for Exhorder's debut in Brazil. With the curtains still closed, they began with the classic "Slaughter In Vatican," and about halfway through the song, vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas Waldemar Sorychta 's guitar , which was missing for almost the entire song.
The audience didn't seem very enthusiastic despite the great work the musicians were doing on stage. Nevertheless, after performing "My Time," the fans gave the band a standing ovation. In addition to older material, they played two new songs, "Year Of The Goat" and "Forever And Beyond Despair," singles from the album "Defectum Omnium," which will be released on March 8th. The tracks were well-received and maintain the band's essence. Once again, the band received a standing ovation, and Kyle took the opportunity to thank the audience and say that he was heavily influenced by punk before announcing that they were nearing the end of the show. The performance wouldn't have been complete without the classics "Exhorder" and "Desecrator," which brutally concluded the Americans' debut in Brazil.
Around 8:30 PM, it was already possible to hear a great guitar sound coming from Vio-Lence's brief soundcheck. What caught the most attention was hearing snippets of Ozzy Osbourne's "Diary Of A Madman," demonstrating the devotion that was later confirmed. With his special edition Randy Rhoads , guitarist Phil Demmel began the riffs of "Eternal Darkness." If the audience was restrained during Exhorder's performance, what was seen at Vio-Lence's show was a true demonstration of the power of the underground. Insane mosh pits and stage diving at every moment showed how much the fans had been waiting for this moment. And it was no different during "Serial Killer" and "Phobophobia." After two years, Vio-Lence was back, and even without a second guitarist, the band didn't fall short with Phil Demmel's brutal sound while vocalist Sean Killian led the party.
The atmosphere was so friendly that a fan even sang backing vocals on “Kill On Command.” The double bill of “I Profit” and “Calling The Coroner” further ignited the crowd, which seemed like a true pandemonium on earth. The band's show offered no respite, maintaining the chaos that had been established since the first riffs of the performance in “Officer Nice” and “Upon Their Cross.” The vocalist didn't hold back in praising the Brazilian fans and prepared a big surprise. He invited Kyle Thomas from Exhorder, and they performed a heavy version of Dead Kennedys .” The audience seemed unable to believe it; it was pure energy. They closed the night with “World In A World,” with everyone clamoring for one more, but unfortunately, it was the last. A Vio-Lence show is a visceral experience that transcends the limits of the stage in an intense celebration with the audience. The performance marked the farewell of Phil Demmel, who is now part of Kerry King's band, and will certainly remain in everyone's memory for a long time.
In the midst of the Carnival holiday, Kool Metal Fest managed to keep the flame of metal burning. It brought together excellent bands and had impeccable organization. The shows ran on schedule and featured great infrastructure for all the bands. A surefire recipe for the success they've enjoyed for over 20 years.