Finally, it was Porto Alegre's turn to participate in this small but great hype called Nervosa . On their first visit to the city, the trio of girls came prepared for a beautiful display of the excellent moment that thrash is experiencing.
It was nearly 7:30 PM when Fernanda Lira (bass, vocals), Prika Amaral (guitar), and Luana Dametto (drums) took the stage at Bar Opinião, closing out the city's metal shows for 2019 with a vibe . Despite some guitar glitches from Prika, who reacted with priceless spontaneity, the band launched into "Horrordrome" and followed it with "...And Justice for Whom?", tracks from side A of Downfall of Mankind , released last year and responsible for projecting the band to an international audience.
Very friendly, Fernanda addressed the audience with contagious energy. "This is the last show of the year, the first in Porto Alegre," and that seemed reason enough to get the crowd excited. Declaring that "there's no room for intolerance here," the band pulled "Intolerance Means War" from their arsenal with exemplary performance, and from then on, every song created increasingly larger mosh pits gig .
The lengthy setlist seamlessly transitioned between the albums Downfall… and Agony , showcasing tracks like “Bleeding,” “Arrogance,” “Enslave,” and even including “Time of Death,” from when the band still stirred controversy by emerging in a predominantly male genre. On stage, what prevails is attitude and a desire to show they owe nothing to anyone. Less perfectionist than on their records, live their sound satisfies the desires of those who leave home to see an underground with a strong, unpretentious sound and a political stance.
“One way or another, we are hostages of these shitty governments we have,” are the vocalist's words to contextualize “Hostages.” The political tone of the show grows along with the artists' credibility, with anti-Bolsonaro chants and ovations for the girls for taking a stand. At one point, a question is heard from the stage: “Who here has Marielle's flag?” The audience's eyes are drawn to a flag of the cowardly murdered councilwoman, raised by one of those present. “Always present!” exclaims Fernanda, before launching into “Masked Betrayer.” Then, the fan hands the flag to the bassist, who places the item on her amplifier, where it will remain visible until the end of the concert.
Looking like she went straight from high school to the Opinião stage, the drummer from Rio Grande do Sul, Luana Dametto, is one of the highlights of the performance. In the first part, her performance is timid, limited to the notes and fills required by the songs. The silence is broken when the audience decides to shower her with words of affection and admiration. The young drummer, originally from the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, awkwardly receives the praise from her numerous fans. "There's someone who was dying to play at home," Fernanda exclaims about the drummer's visit to her state capital.
After that moment, the drummer seems to relax a bit more, rehearses a short drum "solo," and begins to play more freely, bringing in increasingly daring fills and showing complete mastery of her instrument. The band, which experienced great instability in the drummer position, seems to have found its definitive member, as Dametto adds technique, confidence, and a lot of personality to the trio.
“Thank you so much for welcoming us with such energy, Porto Alegre! We are so happy to see the place full, especially on a Wednesday; we know it's not easy for everyone.” The vocalist also thanked the vegetarian restaurant Aurora, an alternative haven for artists and rebels in the city, for their hospitality. The audience included both seasoned figures from the local scene and very young people, all amazed by the band's potential and the vibe they create.
The show ended with the girls' classic, "Into the Moshpit." A long setlist, but one that left the crowd wanting more. To the disappointment of many, the trio left the stage and didn't return for an encore. Nervosa's visit to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul was sealed. May 2020 bring them back!
See below the photos by Daniela Cony taken exclusively for Wikimetal !
